Pride Of Juba

A Testimony for the Nuer–Dinka Conflict in South Sudan.

A must-read story

This is the testimony of Athian Deng from Lakes State, and his lost children during the 2013 Juba massacre.

On 12 December 2013, I traveled to Yei for business and remained there until 15 December 2013. At midnight on the 15th, we heard reports of clashes between the forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of the former Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar.
Early the next morning, driven by fear and concern for my family, I hired a motorbike to return to Juba to check on my three children. At the time, my wife was not at home due to a minor family disagreement.
When I arrived in Juba, the city was already engulfed in chaos. Dead bodies lay on the ground, gunfire echoed everywhere, and our neighborhood had been taken over by the Tiger Division. Civilians were nowhere to be seen.
Holding my breath, I rushed straight to my house. The compound was empty. There was no sign of my children. I was overwhelmed with fear and began to cry, wondering where they could be.
One of my neighbors approached me and said, “My friend, take heart. The area was first controlled by Nuer soldiers. They killed everyone here, including women and children, because they were Dinka and The Tiger Division later liberated the area and removed the bodies.” He then urged me to join the fighting and avenge the blood of my children.
I stood there for about five minutes, unsure of what to do. Shortly afterward, my wife arrived. She was crying uncontrollably and confirmed the worst our children were believed to be dead. We mourned together for nearly two hours.
Later, some soldiers from the Tiger Division approached me and questioned why a man like me was crying when, according to them, many Nuer were still alive in Juba, including in UNMISS compounds and within the army ranks.
At that moment, the desire for revenge consumed me. I begged them to give me a PKM machine gun with 700 rounds of ammunition so that I could kill as many Nuer as possible. Without hesitation, they gave me what I asked for.
From 16 December 2013, I joined the door-to-door killings. On 17 December, I went to a checkpoint, climbed a large tree, mounted my gun, and fired continuously toward the Protection of Civilians (PoC) site where Nuer civilians had fled. I remained there on both 17 and 18 December.
Early in the morning of 18 December, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. When I answered, I could not believe what I heard it was the voice of my daughter, Atong.
“Baba, it is me, Atong,” she said.
I nearly collapsed while still on the tree. Trembling, I asked, “Atong, are you alive?”
She replied, “Yes, Baba, we are alive.”
I immediately asked about her brothers, Majok and Kuot, and she told me they were with her.
When I asked where she was calling from, she said they were in the UNMISS compound near the checkpoint. She explained that our Nuer neighbor had taken them, together with his own children, when the fighting reached Jebel Suk.
Still sitting in that tree, I broke down and cried loudly. The place where I had been firing my gun was exactly where my children were sheltering, along with the Nuer family that had protected them. I cursed tribalism with all my heart, crying out, “Tribalism, you almost made me kill my own children.”
I climbed down, hid my gun, and went to the woman who had hosted my children. I asked her to bring them to the gate. When they came out, I took my children into my arms. I had no words to express my gratitude to that family.
Immediately, I took my children to Rumbek, knowing that Juba was no longer safe.
That day, I came to a painful but important realization: the Nuer people had no intention of killing anyone in South Sudan because of tribe. Their aggression was rooted in self-defense resisting domination and violence imposed against their will.
This experience forever changed my understanding of tribalism, hatred, and the true cost of conflict.

Through this Testimony, It is imperative that global wars are fought out of misinformation guided by ignorance of peace and power of control.
Take an example what is happening in US & ISRAEL-IRAN war, as well as UKRAINE-RUSSIA war.

Say no to Tribalism.

Governor Manytuil Heads to Bentiu After Reappointment

H.E. Lt. Gen. Dr. Joseph Manytuil Wejang, the newly reappointed Governor of Unity State, departed Juba this afternoon en route to Bentiu, the state capital, marking the start of his renewed leadership mandate.

Governor Manytuil was seen off at Juba International Airport by government officials, members of his accompanying delegation, and a group of Unity State citizens who gathered to bid him farewell.

His return to Bentiu is expected to signal continuity in governance and renewed efforts toward stability and development in the state. Supporters expressed optimism as he embarks on his next term in office.

PG Machar told the governor—The reason I didn't create a song for the former governor is because I knew you'd replace him, and now it's my duty to do so without asking.

When u were wearing this as a girl and were still living with your father, please inbox us to arrange a meeting.

In Juba, you'll see someone holding a bottle of water and you might think they're coming from a restaurant, but the fact is that the water is food for his survival.

Good morning from South Sudan 🇸🇸

JUST IN: The Chief of Defence Forces of the national army, General Paul Nang Majok, has ordered the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and all aid agencies to evacuate Akobo County, Jonglei State within 72 hours.
https://www.eyeradio.org/sspdf-orders-unmiss-aid-agencies-to-evacuate-akobo-county-in-72-hours/

Amb. David Luoy Top, holder of a Master's degree in Arts and Conflict Analysis from Royal Roads University in Canada, and a Ph.D. candidate. South Sudan has loyal people who could be given opportunities to lead and showcase their skills to help the country develop and erase tribalism. Unity is in the hands of those who know the suffering and feel the pain of it.

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐊𝐈𝐈𝐑 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
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‎ 𝐉𝐔𝐁𝐀, 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday bid farewell to newly appointed diplomats who are set to represent the country in key foreign missions abroad. The two ambassadors have been appointed to lead the country’s diplomatic missions in India and the United Arab Emirates, as part of efforts to strengthen South Sudan’s international engagement and bilateral cooperation with partner nations.
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‎Dr. Sitona Abdallah Osman has been designated as Ambassador to India, while Amb. Raphael Nhial Kulang will head South Sudan’s diplomatic mission in the United Arab Emirates.
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‎Speaking to the Press following the meeting, Ambassador Sitona expressed gratitude to the President for the trust and confidence placed in them to represent the country on the international stage. “We are grateful to His Excellency the President for entrusting us with this responsibility to serve our country abroad,” she said.
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‎During the meeting, President Kiir reminded the ambassadors of the oath they took to serve their country, urging them to carry out their duties with dedication while advancing South Sudan’s diplomatic interests and strengthening bilateral relations with their host nations. The newly appointed envoys pledged to promote South Sudan and work diligently to enhance cooperation with partner countries.

WHO IS DR. JOSEPH NGUEN MANYTUIL?

Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil is a prominent South Sudanese politician and medical doctor who served as the Governor of Unity State for over a decade. Born into the Bul-Nuer community, he is the son of the late Manytuil Wichjang, a highly respected traditional chief known for his leadership in the Mayom region. Manytuil’s career is defined by his transition from the medical field to the volatile political landscape of Sudan and, later, independent South Sudan, where he became a central figure in the power struggles within the Greater Upper Nile region.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Joseph Nguen Manytuil was raised in a large traditional family in Mayom County. His father, Chief Manytuil Wichjang, was a significant figure in Bul-Nuer society, known for his bravery and judicial wisdom. Manytuil pursued higher education in medicine, eventually traveling to Egypt to attend university. He successfully obtained a medical degree, specializing in surgery. During his academic studies, he was supported by the late General Paulino Matip Nhial, a powerful Nuer military leader in the history of South Sudan 🇸🇸 and Sudan 🇸🇩.

MEDICAL CAREER AND TRANSITION TO POLITICS

Following his graduation, Dr. Manytuil practiced medicine in both Khartoum and Bentiu. He contested the governorship of Unity State in 1998 but lost to Taban Deng G*i, a defeat that fueled a long-standing political rivalry.

POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNORSHIP

Manytuil’s political fortunes shifted significantly after the independence of South Sudan. On July 7, 2013, President Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed him as the Caretaker Governor of Unity State, replacing his rival Taban Deng G*i. When President Kiir expanded the number of states in 2015, Manytuil became the first governor of Northern Liech State.

His tenure was characterized by intense conflict, particularly during the South Sudanese Civil War (2013–2018). He remained a staunch ally of President Kiir, earning the label "Nuer-Wew" (a term used for Nuer leaders loyal to the government of South Sudan 🇸🇸) from his detractors.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND REMOVAL

In recent years, Dr. Manytuil was a vocal advocate for the dredging of the Naam River to mitigate the catastrophic flooding that has plagued Unity State since 2019. This stance led to a public and heated confrontation with academic figures, notably Professor John Akech of the University of Juba, who opposed the project on environmental grounds. On May 20, 2024, President Salva Kiir relieved Dr. Manytuil of his position as Governor of Unity State, replacing him with Justice Riek Bim Top.

Stay tuned & Follow Juba Political Secrets

Apart from party war, we had another land dispute.