Governor of Jonglei State, Sudan in Sioux Falls, SD.

Monday, July 20, 2009 (Sioux Falls, SD) - On his way to business trip to Huston, Texas, Mr. Koul Manyang, Governor of Jongli State, made a brief visit to Sioux Falls, SD, to talk to the fellow citizens in the city. More than three thousands southern Sudanese are believed to be residing in South Dakota.

Mr. Manyang, Governor of Jongli State along with two dignitaries, Chancellor of Dr. John Garang Science and Technology University in Bor, and Ministry of Human Affairs. Photo by Anyuak Media Team Memeber

Mr. Manyang came along with two dignitaries, Chancellor of Dr. John Garang Science and Technology University in Bor, and Ministry of Human Affairs. Their four hours speeches focused mainly on Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), insecurity in Jongli state, unity of all southern, and investment. Although most audiences were from Jongli state, some of the audiences were also from other states in the South.

Mr. Manyang called upon Southern in Diasporas to come out and vote for separation in 2011. “The year 2011 is the only time when southern are going to decide whether to be slave for life or freed for life,” said one of the speakers. In their speeches, the delegates made it clear that the National Congress Party (NCP), the ruling party, has been trying to sabotage the CPA in many different ways, but SPLA/M is relentlessly working hard to make sure that every element in the CPA documentation is implemented. The NCP not only sabotaging the CPA, said Mr. Koul, but it is also hindering the development of South Sudan. As far as the insecurity in the state is concerned, the Governor assured the audience that the state is a safe place to make business and live as well. However, he acknowledged that the state is not crimes freed. “Like any other countries in the world, South Sudan has both good people and bad people. Therefore, there is no surprise we have militant or thugs in Jongli state.”  

The Anuaks at the meeting conveyed their grievance in a written form. In the memo handed to the Governor, the Anuaks voiced their concerned about insecurity, misrepresentation, lack of infrastructure, and internal displace people (IDPS) in their two counties, Akobo and Pochalla. In addition to the written grievance, the Anuaks also were given few minutes to talk about their issues—highlighted what was in the memo. When asked about the Murle’s raid in the two counties in South Sudan and Gambella, Ethiopia, the Governor said that he has been working with tribal chiefs, kings, and traditional leaders to solve the problem. In private meeting with the Anuaks, he admitted that Murle (Ajbee) are not raiding the Anuaks livestock and children only, but they are also raiding Dinkas’ and Equatorains’ livestock and children as well. So, the Murle aggression seems to be pandemic in Jonglei state and beyond the border unless the two countries work together. The Murle are armed to teeth by the National Congress Party (NCP) to destabilize the region.