March 18, 2006 - What started as rumor has come true. About 150 Anyuak men and women have left Khartoum, EL Rank and Malakal for Akobo town.   This journey started at the end of February through the beginning of March 2006.   They have arrived home according to our telephone contact with the Sudan.  Many more are expected to follow to start rebuilding what has been destroyed by the African longest civil war in the Southern Sudan.

The arrival of these young men and women is going to reshape the life of Anyuak in Akobo and surrounding areas.  Many Anyuak have been out of their home town since they were systemically murdered and tortured in 1980-1983 by the notorious killer, Sijin  Banak, the Arab representative at that time.  The Akobo Anyuak slaughter remains a mystery and seriously overshadowed by the then South-North civil war.

What Anyuak lack right now is means of transportation from Malakal to Akobo. Anyuak need immediate help from the UN for the IDPs and the refugees to come home.

We are informed by telephone from Malakal town that there is a mobilization team which is touring the greater Upper Nile Region at the present moment.   The said team is to register those who are keenly ready to go home voluntarily before the raining season.

Click here to view Akobo Map

Staff Reporter.