Unfolding Plans against Shilluk Community

The plans to destabilized Shilluk areas and force Shilluk community out from their areas on the east bank of the Nile first appeared in memorandum signed by Dinka Baliet to Late Leader Dr. John Garang de Mabior that Malakal is Dinka land. But establishment of Makal County went ahead when the memorandum was ignored.

The grounds on which this memorandum claims Malakal, was based on the fact in 1960s, when Baliet was known as Sobat Rural Council. By then, Baliet was a flood prone area forcing the government of Khartoum to transfer the Rural Council to Malakal Municipality for administrative purposes (see Upper Nile Handbook, 1931). Malakal was part and parcel of Kodok District and Capital of Upper Nile Province. The municipality was administered by a Town Clerk. To mentioned a few; Late Tito Tipo Adibo, Late Samuel Kwacikwan, Choul Rambang and John Kazuk among others were the Town Clerks who administered the municipality of Malakal. The other confusing factor why Baliet lay claim on Malakal was elections constituencies. Because of population, Malakal, Baliet and Akoka were combined to one constituency for parliamentary seat in Khartoum. This does not constitute that Malakal was part of these areas.

The plan to grab Shilluk land started in late 1970s when Mulana Abel Alier was President of High Executive Council in Juba. Upper Nile Province was divided into three provinces; Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity Provinces respectively. Jonglei Province claimed the border was Sobal mouth where Sobat River joins the Nile. This was contested by Shilluk in court. The court ruling came in favor of Shilluk, but it was not implemented. A brief fighting between Jonglei Police and Shilluk of Obang resulted in the death of many Shilluk civilians. The plan was enforced by some Shilluk Politicians revelry that stood with Abel Alier against their kinsmen.

The plans continue with Shilluk losing their lands in Dor and Diel to Nuer of Fanjak, Atar, Leil and Obang to Dinka. Grabbing of Wic Nyiral Lul by Dinka was a creation of OLS which is now called Binythiang. Nyijwad now called Fam Zaraf (New Fanjak) was given away by a Shilluk Commissioner. Pig County was created on Shilluk land by H.E. Salva Kiir. Akoka County was created by former governor Gatlwak Deng so as to grab more Shilluk land on the eastern bank of the Nile. Akoka County has no parliamentary presentation because of lack of population to constitute a seat in the Legislative Assembly.

In 2004, Shilluk villages on the western bank were burned down by Gabriel Tanginyi in an attempt to de-populate area of Shilluk in order to acquire more land. Again this plot was carried with the assistance of some Shilluk politicians in NCP who thought they would get positions in the government.

The plot continues in 2009 and during the CPA celebration, Dinka and Shilluk fought over the ownership of Malakal Town. The government and SPLA sided with Dinka to the disadvantage of the Shilluk. Killing of Shilluk continue in Angdair, Binythiang, Malakal and many other places.

Disintegration of Shilluk land has become an official policy of SPLM of course with the backing of Shilluk members of that party. Indicative of this policy was when SPLM members failed in the elections. They stated that soon SPLA tanks will be running rampage in Shilluk land. It actually happened when Shilluk became IDPs again in their own land. Many youth were killed at the instruction of Shilluk SPLM Advisor in the Upper Nile Government. Those Shilluk youth detained by SPLA in their barracks were never heard of again. It has put the Shilluk in the state of weakness and constant fear.

Even IDPs from Jonglei State who were settled in Obel now claim to area to be theirs. Recently, they pull out signs demarcating land for Upper Nile University. They are proclaiming compensation for the land.

Malakal crises were part of grabbing Shilluk land. Taking over of Malakal Town was the making of Shilluk SPLM member in the Assembly for Central Malakal Town. This MP plus his other colleague members voted to make Malakal Town a city headed by a Nuer Mayor. The traditional Shilluk Court in the town was pushed to west bank of the Nile. Makal County Commissioner got stripped of his duties. The Shilluk are now dehumanized and subjected to notorious subjection. This is the state of affairs in which Shilluk find themselves under SPLM rule.

Yorwin Otor can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.