* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Conflict between Murle and Lou Nuer tribes in the Jonglei state of South Sudan has been going on for the last 50 years. After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the heaviest attacks were witnessed in 2009. But in 2011 four heavy clashes took place in a space of months: One in March in the Pibor area and a repeat attack in June; another in August in Pieri village; and the most recent one on the eve of Christmas in Likuangole.
This recent spate of fighting is said to have started in Likuangole on Christmas eve, and by the turn of the year, the conflict had spread southwards to Pibor and later to Fertait and Bilait, south of Pibor river.
We visited the town of Pibor on 10 January, almost two weeks after the fighting abated. Aid work ground to halt after compounds of two international non-governmental organizations were completely looted, homes too were looted, but the huts were not heavily destroyed. The conflict however, did empty the town. Everyone fled into the bush. Two weeks later, the people are slowly coming back. The market is sluggishly returning to normal and food is available, though the prices of commodities are unusually high.
Pibor is also hosting a new population. Displaced families from Likuangole payam (district), which is about six hours walking distance from Pibor, are slowly making their way here. The situation in Likuangole is catastrophic. The whole town was razed down reducing the tukuls (traditional huts) and the property into ashes. The few people we met told us that most civilians managed to escape before the attack. Certainly some people were killed, but it is very difficult to verify the numbers.
Now residents of Likuangole are coming out from their hiding areas and arriving at Pibor town. Some are being hosted in a school waiting for help; others are living with the local community. It is estimated that over 20,000 displaced people have so far arrived at Pibor with more coming everyday. Almost 120 unaccompanied children are staying at the Commissioner's residence.
Tension is still very high in Pibor and while some people are cautiously returning, it is believed that a high number still remains in the bush. Altogether it is estimated that some 50,000 to 60,000 people were displaced in this last bout of fighting.
The biggest concern is the increasingly reducing humanitarian space and the fear of retaliation attacks. In Pibor for instance, compounds belonging to two agencies providing much needed healthcare and humanitarian aid were looted. Some medical services are not yet up and running and patients have had to be referred to far-off hospitals in Boma or even to the capital Juba.
When we visited Pibor, we were told that the Lou Nuer were on the way returning to “their” capital Akobo, with some 60,000 to 80,000 heads of cattle. This is more than 80 percent of the livelihood assets of the Murle people.
Worrying reports allege that a group of armed Murle warriors are also moving towards Akobo, raising the fears of retaliatory attacks. On 13 January such an attack took place in Uror county leaving according to local media 55 people dead, 52 injured and 40 children abducted.
The people of Jonglei state certainly need a lot of humanitarian support, but aid workers are facing severe difficulties in accessing the affected populations. Residents of Likuangole for instance, will require help in rebuilding their homes, and re-establishing their sources of livelihoods.
Ultimately, the people here need peace. Without peace, nation-building is going to be a very difficult task in South Sudan.
