BOR, Oct. 1, 2026 — Jonglei State’s newly appointed caretaker governor, Moses Majok Gatluak, has named caretaker commissioners for Twic East and Duk counties after weeks of intensified clashes between youth from the neighbouring communities.
The conflict, which began in 2023, escalated last week when armed youth from Twic East attacked Apiir Palaidhiim village in Duk County, killing more than a dozen people. Further fighting broke out along the Jonglei Canal near Duk Payuel, where gunfire continued for hours. Casualty figures from that confrontation remained unclear because of network outages in the area.
In Gubernatorial Order No. 01 of 2026, Majok appointed Chol Deng Gatluak as caretaker commissioner of Duk County, replacing John Chatim Ruei, and James Magok Mabiei as caretaker commissioner of Twic East County.
The appointments took effect immediately. The order cited Article 99(2)(a) of the Jonglei State Transitional Constitution and Republican Decree No. RSS/OP/RD/J-243-09/2026 as its legal basis.
Civil society groups welcomed the appointments but cautioned that administrative changes alone would not end the violence.
Kenya Mach, information secretary of the Jonglei State Women’s Association, said the appointments could help ease tensions. She urged the governor to visit the affected areas and establish a peace committee bringing together youth, women, faith leaders and politicians.
Bol Deng Bol, head of the National Civil Society Coalition, criticised what he described as government inaction. He said recent agreements had failed because those directly involved in the fighting were not represented and called for comprehensive grassroots dialogue to address the underlying grievances.
The dispute involves the Ayual community of Twic East and the Hol community of Duk. It began in 2023 amid tensions over the fishing village of Bioth Agany and has since killed more than 20 people and displaced many others.
Previous peace efforts, including a committee established by the former governor, failed to halt the violence. With tensions still high and youth mobilisation continuing, the new caretaker commissioners face immediate pressure to restore calm and support local peace initiatives.
Civil society leaders said progress would depend on sustained engagement by state authorities, adequate resources and consistent follow-up with communities on both sides.
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