Lou Nuer is not all about killing

By Atok Dan Baguoot



Lou Nuer country of Uror County is situated in a fairly flat lands of the dry savannah grassland of Jongeli State and stretched adjacently northwest and north of the Murle lands while vertically north-northeast of Duk county. It also lays partially Southeast of Gawaar clan of Ayod County (Yod), whereas southwest of Lou Nuer of Nyirol County. It is characterized by scattered semi-arid thorny short trees which suit rural agricultural schemes. The land hosts thousands wildlife ranging from different spices of birds, other mammals as well as millions of domestic animals kept for cultural rituals, prestige and economical purposes, though it is partially rare for a Lou-Nuer headman to slaughter his animal for home consumption whenever there is hunger like now. Rare white ear cob is among spices found there.



Chieng-Dak (Dak-Diok) Land of Uror County is a country found on light black river fertile soils with few scattered acacia tree and other spices. It is a dry land from the look of things. Ninety percent 90% of the total population is illiterate. Few rural schools found there were constructed during war and post war. Construction of schools came possible after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). It used to be level four according to donors or UN agents operating in the area and up to now it still suits the language. Government of Southern Sudan Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin happens to be from there has contracted an Egyptian Company to construct Egyptian Complex School which still at the foundation now. “The first project ever in that area since creation” Dr. Marial said.



Efforts of few intellectuals in the area always remain unrealized because there are no old structures inherited as it happened all over Southern Sudan. These people are generally too religious although their religion perception is still centred on traditional believes. Christianity is deep rooted in Lou-Nuer. Taking mere drinking water requires serious prayer offering. All ages and sex are curious and receptive to new ideas but their old ways of live remains the central referral point of behavior to everyone in the country. On my way to Motot Payam, I met a group of young boys roughly age ten singing “Liberty for Boys” in deep Nuer accented English.



They love none boastful foreigners who do things in their likeness, speaking partial Nuer at least should be a medium. In spite of their arrogance when it comes to people who temper with them, Lou Nuer of Uror are still friendly and easy-smiles with everyone regardless of your origin. They are more oriented to donor relieving their conditions. In short, they have the mentality of dependent syndrome which I think was acquired during twenty years of war. Women are the backbone of the economy.



Despite all these Lou-Nuer of Uror County still have their negative nuances towards their neigbouring tribes of Jang (Dinka) and Jabe (Murle) and other neigbouring Nuer clans. Murle called them Jong-koth meaning warriors. Murle also called Bor Dinka as Mane-oti meaning yellow heads because of cow dung ashes smeared on their heads for decoration. They hate Murle and Duk Dinka more than any other persons near them.



Food security in Lou-Nuer of Uror County



The area was worst hit by the last year regional drought. Crops never yielded and water pools which water the population and millions of domestic animals had never had enough to run them through three to four month dry seasons. The dismay is that, Lou Nuer of Uror County is never in good terms with all their close neighbors. They have annoyed all their friends whom they depend on for water as their area is totally dry and dry. They are supposed to be in need of their friends more than anybody.



From the look of things, they would wish to have not created all those messes but no way out. In fact, the population is dying of hunger and thirst. The appeal is that, something ought to be done in time otherwise; things are tough for women, children and aged group. Able youth will either travel across region getting their ways to find water. The youth are armed to teeth with modern automatic rifles so they are able to penetrate through any territory but it won’t be possible. All traditional chiefs, elders and (Kume) or government authorities have convened and convinced these youth to handover their illicit weapons to government as they are source of sufferings to the masses.



As a matter of fact, Youth are more willing to handover their weapons to the disarmament team which is already on the ground but another alarming question is that, shall those whom they have quarreled with going to accept them come to their territories and if accepted will they be secure there if their neighbors are still armed.



This actually, answers the question of unanimous disarmament. Disarm Lou Nuer, disarm Bor Dinka, Gawaar, Murle, and Anyuak and up to Eastern Equatoria to avoid further infiltration of weapons once the exercise is thoroughly accomplished and continue naming many to disarm.



In fact, Youth in Lou Nuer of Uror County don’t like fighting their neighbors but competition over resources does compel them in aggressive act. Lack of pasture and water is the major reason above all given reasons. Passerby can see dire need of water. One of the youth leaders who attacked Duk Padiet told me how they hate Arabs and that Arabs cannot come to South so long they are alive. This also dismisses allegations that their ammunitions are brought from Khartoum and Khartoum sponsors all kinds of aggressions posed by the Lou Nuer Youth.



Lou Nuer youth are more innocent than perceived given the current political waves in the country. They only sing SPLA/M or thielA/thielM oyee in Nuer. The only government known in Uror County of Lou Nuer is the SPLM and Jongeli state government. Other political forces that form the government of Southern Sudan are just time wasting. The likely candidate to win in general elections in Lou Nuer later on will surely be an SPLM member. Everybody has SPLM table flag in his/her house including children. Political slogans begin with SPLM oyee, Jongeli State oyee and finally Dak-diok oyee. Traditional chiefs are the central agents of political success if one is to participate in politics in Lou Nuer, although Nuers have special fan on leaders unlike their next of kin Dinkas whose political might is on how social you are to the people. Nuers don’t discriminate but Dinkas do and that’s why more Dinkas are Nuer and few Nuers are assimilated into Dinka.



Lou Nuer is not all about killing but a place of peace and a worship as Nuer culture is all about. Prophet Ngundeng Bong was born there in the land of Bieh. It is a land of thousands of peaceful and worshippers whose life is deterred by natural calamities. Peace is all about what needed. Love is all about the order of the day.



I didn’t know what Lou Nuer was I until I made my four-day tour to the region and it was as four days in earthly hell if at all hell exists. It is a land lock country of thousands who move their ways throughout nights and days searching for change in life. The only exit and entrance now is by air. And the only question always asks by outsiders who visited the area is that: why there still closed districts yet the South fought for twenty years to liberate themselves from the yoke of slavery? The logical answer normally given by the concerned persons is that Rome was not built in a day.





Atok Dan is a journalist working with Southern Sudan Radio & TV and he is reached at atokfuture@gmail.com