Recent remarks by His Excellency Lieutenant General Taban Deng Gai, Vice President responsible for Infrastructure in the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, about contested areas between some counties of Unity State and Panrieng County and Abiemnom County, the latter two now forming the Ruweng Administrative Area, have provoked significant debate across Greater Unity State, within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), and among the South Sudanese public.
Comments that can be interpreted as endorsing ethnic exclusion, deepening land disputes, or reinforcing tribal privileges are especially worrying when voiced by a national leader expected to represent all citizens impartially. Such rhetoric risks undermining the inclusive principles that should guide public service.
Greater Upper Nile is one of South Sudan’s largest and most diverse regions. It must remain a space where every citizen enjoys equal rights and opportunities. South Sudan’s history demonstrates that leadership is not the preserve of any single tribe or locality. Officials from different regions have served across states, reflecting the national character of public institutions.
The late Dr. John Garang de Mabior set a vital precedent by prioritizing competence and national commitment in appointing state governors rather than tribal or regional considerations. Appointments across regional lines, with Equatorian officials serving in Unity and Upper Nile, and leaders from Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria serving in Greater Upper Nile, helped strengthen national unity, reduce tribalism and corruption, and build trust in state institutions.
As a senior commander in the SPLA during the liberation struggle, Lieutenant General Taban Deng Gai led forces that included Nuer, Dinka, Shilluk, and others united in the pursuit of freedom and justice. Fighters from the present day Ruweng area served and died alongside comrades from various backgrounds. It is regrettable, therefore, that contemporary political rhetoric might be interpreted as casting suspicion on communities that were once part of a common struggle.
Rather than deepen divisions, Lieutenant General Taban Deng Gai should act as a statesman who builds bridges of reconciliation between Unity State and the Ruweng Administrative Area. The immediate priority should be to address the political and historical drivers behind Ruweng’s demand for administrative separation from Unity State, rather than issue statements that risk inflaming mistrust and tension.
The creation of the 32 state system was not a fleeting political maneuver. It reflected a longstanding demand shared by many South Sudanese long before the crisis of December 2013. Later endorsed by elements of the National Dialogue, the approach aimed to improve administration, strengthen governance, and expand public participation. Its goal was to bring services closer to citizens, not to create fresh disputes over land and boundaries. Most contemporary border conflicts have administrative roots stretching back to the era of a united Sudan.
Many land disputes in Greater Unity State also stem from policies pursued by the National Islamic Front regime in Khartoum during the civil war. That regime rewarded allied militias and political clients with control over lands historically belonging to other communities perceived as sympathetic to the SPLM. Scorched earth tactics in oil producing areas further displaced local populations from their ancestral lands. The legacy of these policies continues to shape present day conflicts.
As Vice President and a leading figure in Greater Upper Nile, Lieutenant General Taban Deng Gai bears a responsibility to promote national unity, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence. South Sudan cannot afford rhetoric that exacerbates ethnic divisions at a time when national cohesion is essential. Any vision of a state dominated by a single ethnic group contradicts the principles of the liberation movement, the legacy of Dr. John Garang, and the objectives of national reconciliation.
This is a respectful call for Lieutenant General Taban Deng Gai to use his influence to advance peace and stability in Unity State, Greater Upper Nile, and across South Sudan. At this critical juncture, the country needs leaders who unite communities and build durable bridges rather than deepen existing fault lines.
As Vice President, he has a significant opportunity to help implement the revitalized peace agreement, strengthen national unity, and support reconciliation and social healing across the nation.
South Sudan’s future will not be secured by narrow ethnic loyalties but by a shared commitment to justice, peace, and a citizenship based state that includes all its people. The country’s leaders should rise above narrow calculations and work together for a more stable and prosperous future for every citizen.
May God protect South Sudan and bless its people.
William Sunday D. Tor is a political and social researcher and currently a Lecturer of Security Studies, International Development, and Regional Planning at Starford International University, Juba. He can be reached via williamtor2011@gmail.com
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