Community Peace Initiative

Royal Aid for Development

Upper Nile is on the precipice of renewed armed conflict. After a lull in violence in the past two months, armed groups are mobilizing for possible confrontation as Johnson Olonyi’s Agwelek forces reposition themselves near key ports on the White Nile, and SPLA-IO and Nuer White Army forces mobilize youth in northern Jonglei and southern Upper Nile Panyikang County’s location at the borders of Sudan, Unity and Jonglei States, and at the edge of the historical Shilluk Kingdom has made it a flashpoint for conflict dating back decades. This has been reflected in cattle raids, local violence and the presence of a high number of small arms. Common drivers of conflict identified through community consultations held in 2012 included disputes over borders and land, the widespread presence of firearms, and competition for water (UNDP 2012). In the pre-CPA era, inter-communal violence led to the displacement of the communities that had been longstanding residents of the area. In 2011 land and border disputes with groups from Baliet were observed between the Shilluk and Dinka