Representatives of the Apuk Giir and Marial Wau communities join hands in solidarity after presenting a joint peace position paper to the governors of Warrap and Western Bahr el Ghazal states in Juba on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. | Courtesy

Representatives of the Apuk Giir community of Gogrial East County (Warrap State) and the Marial Wau community of Jur River County (Western Bahr el Ghazal State) have presented a joint position paper to state leaders, demanding urgent government action to consolidate peace along their shared border.

The joint paper was submitted to Warrap State Governor Amb. Bol Wek Agoth and Western Bahr el Ghazal State Governor Sharif Daniel Sharif following a briefing by a community-led Peace Initiative Committee composed of intellectuals from both sides.

While the ongoing peace process has successfully brought about a cessation of hostilities, community representatives emphasized that critical challenges continue to threaten long-term stability—specifically the arrest of criminal suspects, the recovery and return of looted cattle and property, and local security arrangements around the contentious Manyang area.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mou Ambrose Riny highlighted key recommendations brought before the two governors.

“During this process, we have faced challenges which we brought to the attention of the two governors—for example, the arrest of suspects and culprits, and the return of looted cattle and property,” Riny stated.

“We have also heard from both communities that the military units stationed in Manyang have not been positively received, with residents requesting a neutral force instead. Furthermore, Manyang must be governed by a civil administration, as severe poverty persists and many residents have been forced to abandon their farms.”

Echoing these priorities, Marial Wau community representative Ustaz Arkangelo Anyar Anyar urged both state governments to lead a joint peace rally to reinforce the cease-fire.

“The major achievements so far have been the cessation of hostilities and the conduct of local rallies,” Anyar said.

“However, suspects remain unarrested and looted cows have not been returned. We recommend a joint rally led by the two governors and appeal to both communities to allow the law to take its course. We must secure peace so that our people can participate safely in the upcoming December 2026 general elections.”

The borderlands of Manyang and Tharkueng have long been flashpoints for recurring intercommunal violence fueled by competing claims over agricultural land, seasonal grazing routes, and administrative boundaries. Unclear territorial demarcation between Gogrial East and Jur River counties has further complicated dispute resolution efforts.

The human cost of the conflict has been severe. Cycles of violence in early 2024 resulted in the deaths of over 100 people, widespread destruction of property, and the displacement of more than 35,000 residents.

High-level interventions have sought to curb the violence:

• May 2024: Senior national security leadership—including the Chief of Defence Forces, Inspector General of Police, and Director General of the National Security Service—visited Wau, Manyang, and Tharkueng to enforce security and urge peaceful coexistence.

• July 2024: Community leaders held a landmark three-day dialogue in Wau, agreeing to stop fighting, reopen vital trade roads, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and refer the Manyang border dispute to the national government for formal resolution.

• July 2026: A technical peace committee formed by both state governors partnered with local intellectuals to reactivate joint reconciliation efforts, leading directly to this week’s joint position paper.

Both communities are now calling on the state and national authorities to act swiftly on their joint resolutions to ensure lasting stability across the state border.