Dear Honorable Mr. President:

The Anyuak and Murle Communities in the Diaspora are writing this letter on behalf of the Anyuak and Murle people of South Sudan. As concerned people of South Sudan, we are certain you agree that the security conditions in Jonglei have been worsening. The media has widely reported on the damaging effect that this has caused to our people. As you are well aware, the conflict among the tribes in Jonglei is very complicated and is rooted in our history. Many resolutions and approaches have been tried, yet none have been found to be effective.

We in the Anyuak and Murle communities strongly believe there is a critical need for a new approach if sustainable peace is to ever be achieved in Jonglei. This new approach must be based on equal rights, responsibility and accountability through a governance system that provides the structure and support for the representation of all tribes.

Often, our minority status has been used to discriminate against us and has resulted in the under-representation of our communities at both the state and federal government levels. Currently, the two major ethnic groups hold most of the key positions in Jonglei State government as well as at the federal level. The Anyuak, Murle, Kachipu and Giye, with a combined population of more than 300.000, have fewer than 10 people representing them at the state level and only four people in the National Assembly in Juba. Such under-representation is having a crippling effect and is undermining stability and peaceful co-existence. Under the present system in Jonglei, it would be virtually impossible for minorities to articulate their grievances, to fight crime or to solve other political issues. Indeed, to promote stability and build the foundation for genuinely democratic governance, the issue of inequality of representation must be addressed along with inequality of economic and educational opportunities.

As a solution to this problem, we propose the creation of a new state that better represents these minorities of the Anyuak, Murle, Kachipu and Giye, and is based on the geographic location of the 1956 borders of the counties of Akobo, Pochalla, and Pibor. We believe this solution will immediately bring greater peace and stability to the region. We also believe there will be investment on the part of these ethnicities and greater accountability in bringing the rule of law to a region that has been previously difficult to govern, partly due to the lack of voice. More responsibility will be placed on these groups to find solutions to their own problems.

Nevertheless, the fundamental thresholds for a constitutional amendment to determine the creation of a new state and government in many cases are: size of the territory, population, economic viability, common interest, and administrative effectiveness. Based on these factors, the following assessment will demonstrate the readiness for the creation of a new state.

(a) Size of territory:
The proposed new State, consisting of Akobo, Pochalla, and Pibor counties, will cover more than 60,000 Km2, which is larger than Warrap or Unity States.

(b) Population:
The proposed new state will have a population of more than 300,000, exceeding the population of Eastern Equatoria or Unity State; and furthermore, these communities of the Anyuak, Murle, Kachipu and Giye have sufficient resources to perform their functions with reasonable stability.

(c) Economic viability:
Throughout the history, Anyuak, Murle, Kachipu and Giye have been trade partners. Anyuak farmers provide Murle with grain and fish; in return they receive dairy products. Similar arrangements exist between the Anyuak and Kachipu. This ancient partnership created interdependencies within these tribes that will advance peace, prosperity and well-being.

(d) Common interest of the communities:
It is not surprising that the Anyuak, Murle, Kachipu and Giye communities, who have lived together for many centuries, for the most part, have not had major conflicts based on territorial expansionism, have not had historical animosity. During the dry seasons, Murle herd their cattle on Anyuak land where they can get pasture and water. At the end of the dry seasons, Murle usually return safely to their areas. Throughout the history, Anyuak, Murle, Kachipu and Giye have developed conflict resolution mechanisms that have been effective in resolving disputes and conflicts for centuries.

(e) Administrative convenience and effectiveness:
The three counties border each other in Eastern Jonglei. Prior to the British enclave of 1920, Akobo and Pochalla were administratively part of the Anyuak Kingdom, with their economy mainly depending on agriculture.

Honorable Mr. President, based on the above mentioned factors, we the Anyuak and Murle communities worldwide, urge you to form a new state in Eastern Jonglei in the territory of Akobo, Pibor and Pochalla counties. Borders shall stand as were established by the British Administration in 1911, which became known as the 1956 borders. The creation of such a state is necessary for both practical reasons and to create the most conducive and most easily attained conditions for peaceful coexistence.

With the creation of a new state in Eastern Jonglei, the following objectives will be achieved:

1. Development in the region based on a targeted strategy with full participation by all tribes in Jongeli in decision making.
2. Sense of ownership and responsibility by all tribes.
3. Equal and well-balanced opportunities for all members of Jongeli State communities and hence, improvement in access to services and eventually, quality of life of the members of the new state.
4. Improvement in service delivery and a chance for the minority communities to exercise their rights in decision making and self-governance. Currently, the major problem facing these communities is accessibility. Transportation and other basic infrastructure such as roads, clinics, primary and secondary education facilities are largely non-existent.
5. Eradication of inter-ethnic conflicts and rivalry.
6. Greater oversight and accountability.
7. Greater flexibility to shift expenditure based on needs.
8. Peaceful integration with neighboring tribes and the creation of one South Sudanese nation.

Honorable Mr. President, as history has shown in the old Sudan and in other countries around the world, it was and remains a mistake to assume that a nation such as ours can become prosperous, peaceful and democratic when the rights of minorities are not respected and minorities are not equally represented. In addition, after more than 50 years of war with the North, it would be morally wrong for the new government of the Republic of South Sudan to turn around now and deny these basic rights to minorities in Jongeli State after fighting to attain our rights as Southern Sudanese.

We ask that you support the legislation to establish a new state in Eastern Jonglei and support beginning a planning process that will move in this direction. We very much look forward to working with you to address these issues and to create a safer and more just South Sudanese society for all. Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to your prompt response.

God Bless South Sudan!

Sincerely yours,