13/05/2024
From the former Bureau Head of Peace and Security.
Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia.
Mr. Chuol Kun Lual
May 10, 2024
To the Prime Minister of Ethiopia
H.E Abiy Ahmed Ali
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Subject: Report addressing the Root Cause of Conflict between Nuer and Anyuak.
This report will be presented to:
Office of the Prime Minister-Ethiopia H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali
Prosperity Party - ብልፅግና, Office of Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Adam Farah
Office of Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Temesgen Tureneh
Ethiopian Human Rights Commission Dr. Daniel Bekele
Ministry of Peace, Mr. Binalfe Andualem Ministry of Defence
Prosperity Party, Gambella Branch Office Head with President Rank, Mr. Ashine Astin
As a member of the Prosperity Party, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the Prosperity Party. I wish to clarify that I am still a full member of the Prosperity Party, despite having fled the country for my own safety due to threats from President Omod Ojulu Obup. Therefore, I request that my message be addressed with respect and dignity.
I have lived in Gambella for many years and served as a leader, and I believe that my message can contribute to solving the problems in Gambella. Below is the message that I have prepared.
Introduction:
In the process of clarifying the root cause of the conflict that erupted in the Gambella Region of Ethiopia, it is important to note that conflict is inevitable not only in ancient or modern society, but it is also something that has been realized long before the foundation of the world, even in heaven. The source of political conflict in the Gambella region revolves around power, resources, and identity crisis, among other factors. In this regard, this conflict is not easily resolved. It is a political conflict driven by power struggles, involving opposition parties with different ideologies or political campaigns, territorial claims, identity crises, or feelings of inferiority, among other issues. These are the causes of violence that have claimed many lives, caused material losses, and displaced many people from their homes.
Aims:
To inform the Prosperity Party (PP) and the public about the current political and conflict situation in the Gambella Regional State.
To provide insight into potential solutions to the problem that has divided the region into two camps.
Sources of Conflict:
1. Power Struggle:
Among political parties, some are exercising their ideologies against the Prosperity Party (PP), and the leaders in the Prosperity Party are influenced by those ideologies. For example, the Gambella People Liberation Movement (GPLM) is an Anyuak-led movement with an ideology that the Anyuak are the only tribe owning Gambella Land. They oppose coexistence, resource sharing, and territorial claims. GPLM is supported by the majority of Anyuak, including members of the ruling party led by an Anyuak son, Mr. Omod Ojulu, President of the Gambella Region. Omod Ojulu once stated that he didn’t want to be an enemy to the Anyuak people; he would prioritize their interests over others. He internally supported GPLM's ideology fully. It is a power struggle against PP because during the 2021 election, Prosperity won the majority of seats in the parliament, but GPLM won only 12 seats out of the 45 allotted to the Anyuak Zone by PP according to the ratio. In 2022, they requested 21 seats from government wings, including the Vice President Seat occupied by a Nuer. One might wonder how this could happen when the president is an Anyuak, but understanding their intention is crucial; they aim to claim any seat they desire because they are Anyuak and believe they have more rights than others.
2. Resources:
It is the belief of every Anyuak son and daughter that every resource placed in Gambella land by God belongs to the Anyuak, and no one else has the right to claim them. Due to the ideology introduced by GPLM, the Anyuak were taken by surprise to learn that the Nuer had occupied the majority of Anyuak land from afar, and now they want their land back by force. GPLM has become the focal point of the conflict that erupted in Gambella last year. They demand the removal of Nuer from many areas, including Berbereseb, Chenkuar (New Land) in Gambella town, Pulkot, and Lear Kebeles in Itang special woreda.
On the other hand, the Nuers have the right to own land in these areas because they are their lands. Not a single Anyuak has been displaced from Berbereseb, Newland, Pulkot, or Lear by war or any other means. Anyuak are inherently selfish and prefer to live alone, especially when it comes to coexisting with the Nuer. All the territories being claimed by them do not rightfully belong to them. Anyuak typically prefer to live on the riverbank, and their places are along the riverbank. However, they are reluctant to live where the Nuer settle, often leading to conflicts and the complete abandonment of those areas. All the territories they have abandoned along the riverbank, from Lare up to Itang, are now empty; no Nuer is living there to this day. The same is true for Newland and Berbereseb; no Anyuak have ever lived there for centuries. These lands are not theirs, and they have no right to claim them. The issue of land has become another source of conflict in Gambella.
3. Identity Crisis:
It is evident that the Anyuak feel their identity is on the brink of extinction. They believe that the majority of their people have been assimilated into the Nuer tribe through the Nuer system of living, rather than through warfare. They feel dominated and controlled for long periods. However, the Nuer have a culture where strangers are always treated with utmost respect. Strangers or adopted children are given lordship over the family, providing them with an opportunity to change their identity to one that is more advantageous. This noble culture of the Nuer has become a threat to the existence of the Anyuak, who choose war over peaceful resolution, unlike the Nuer. Since the Anyuak prefer dominance over others, they feel threatened by the rapid intellectual growth and population increase of the Nuer. This has become another source of conflict in Gambella.
What has happened since the start of the conflict in May 2023?
Before the conflict erupted between the two tribes, the OLF (Oromo Liberation Front) war, along with the GLF (Gambella Liberation Front), was used by Omod Ojulu and Thakuey Joak as an excuse to arrest others to absolve themselves of any responsibility for the crimes committed during their tenure. These two leaders became the worst enemies of the people because they always shifted blame onto their subjects to evade accountability.
Before the Human Rights report, the two commissioners attempted to arrest those suspected of being the killers, but Omod Ojulu and his deputy, Thakuey Joak, released those arrested, claiming that no one had been killed in Gambella town. However, after the Human Rights report, they made excuses to imprison Abdullah Obang, the former Commissioner, and his deputy, Tut Khor Dak, alleging that they were aware of the issue and should be held accountable. Nevertheless, no one attempted to question them about their initial report, which falsely attempted to defend the killing event perpetrated by their own cabinet members.
After the ETV report favored the Anyuak but accused Tut Khor and Koang Nyariak, both Nuers, of giving orders in Nuer language to kill highlanders, the entire Nuer community was outraged by the report. Witnessing the unjust actions against this institution, the former Head of Peace and Security, Mr. Changkuoth Choat, had a discussion with Vice President Thakuey Joak. Thakuey Joak instructed him and some cabinet members to speak with Nuer youth to deter them from their planned actions, especially peaceful demonstrations.
After meeting with the youth and persuading them to leave the matter to the political leaders, President Omod Ojulu turned the situation against Changkuoth, accusing him of propagating for Nuer youth to boycott the human rights report. Thakuey Joak, who allowed Changkuoth Choat, Taidor Chambang, and others to meet with Nuer youth, failed to defend them when Omod threatened to dismiss them from their positions. They were subsequently suspended from their roles as the President desired. Omod added the conflict between the Nuer and Anyuak as a pretext for removing Changkuoth Choat, although the issue persisted despite their removal.
Another pretext for my dismissal from my position was made, although I accepted it. They attempted to shift the blame for their initiated conflict onto me, despite my innocence of any wrongdoing against anyone, whether Nuer, Anyuak, or others. I am innocent of their bloodshed. This is why I could not accept being arrested while I was a victim, protecting the Anyuak from being killed by the Nuer, who could overrun them at any moment.
I was a victim for safeguarding the Nuer from vengeful generals who intervened between the Nuer and Anyuak but were actually tasked with killing any Nuer seeking revenge on the Anyuak. I was victimized for advocating for peace and being heard by my people when I urged them not to fight with the Anyuak, and they heeded my advice. However, this was not appreciated by these generals simply because Omod Ojulu paid them handsomely to kill Nuer if they continued to defend themselves from the Anyuak. As I am innocent, immediately after my removal from my post, the two factions began fighting each other, but instead of remaining neutral, the EDF soldiers sided with only the Anyuak, becoming victims of their own actions.
There is no regional state president as dictatorial as Omod Ojulu. Acting as if he were the president of the Anyuak, he denied the Nuer community in Berbereseb access to education, health services, clean water, and administrative kebeles simply because his Anyuak community demanded that the Nuer leave the area. Whom do you think he is serving? It is evident that he is serving his tribe exclusively.
Omod Ojulu would be pleased only if the Nuers of Lear, Pulkot, and Berbereseb were displaced from their current dwellings. Omod, as president, is always delighted when his Anyuak people attack and kill many Nuers. Last year, 19 Nuers were killed and burned alive by armed Anyuak men in Gambella town Berbereseb and Jebjebe Mountain in a single day alone; however, his Excellency the president remained silent and preoccupied only with planting seeds in Nuer Zone, whose community members were wiped out by his own people. This led to revenge being taken against his Anyuak people in Pino immediately after the Berbereseb attack a week later.
Then the president became serious and called a meeting to promptly return all organized forces to their respective areas from both Nuer and Anyuak zones. However, while the Nuers were returned by the organized committees, the Anyuak, instead of returning, were soon organized by the leaders sent to disperse them. Immediately after the Nuers returned to Nuer, Omod ordered the EDF to leave Lear and then ordered his organized forces to attack Lear. Information was received that the Anyuak were going on the offensive in Lear.
As leaders, we exchanged information with the President, former Commissioner Senay Akwor, and Security Department Deputy Head Mr. Othow Okoth Oboude, but all denied any knowledge of the offensive. The next day, fierce fighting broke out in Lear very early in the morning, resulting in the burning down of Lear and the deaths of many people on both sides. Cattle, goats, and many other things were also killed and damaged by the war. Therefore, based on these facts, the president has been acting in favor of his own people since last year. Senay and Othow, instead of being held responsible for lying, were simply rewarded with other positions.
It is clear that there is illegal smuggling of drugs in the Gambella Region, which is the source of every problem that is currently occurring. But I am wondering why the federal government still sees Omod Ojulu as a legitimate president who could peacefully lead the region. To me, it isn’t fair to keep such a president who allows his driver to trade in illegal drugs, and later when the driver and the bodyguard were caught red-handed, he managed to release them from prison without facing consequences. Many illegal drugs are being caught in Gambella town, but no one receives a verdict to serve as a lesson to others. Many claims legality because the president of the region is illegally selling o***m, as evidenced by being caught red-handed in his own car. Omod is a bad example and cannot lead this region at all. I hold him guilty of all the crimes being committed in Gambella.
The conflict that began this year unfolded in various locations:
1. In Itang Woreda:
• 20 people were killed, including victims of the last bus attack by Anyuak from the president's own Kebeles (Akade).
• 1 Anyuak was killed by a Nuer, while 3 highlanders were killed by Anyuak. • 46 individuals were wounded from the bus attack and fighting between Pulkot, Puol, and Pinyman.
• 16 Nuers, including 4 women and 2 teenagers, were killed by Anyuak. • 3 highlanders were killed by Anyuak.
• 1 Anyuak was killed by Nuers.
2. In Abol Woreda:
• 1 person was killed from an ambulance, with 15 wounded from a bus and 2 from an ambulance, all victims of Anyuak.
• 8 people were killed in Gambella town, including 2 Anyuak, 2 Nuers, and 3 highlanders, with perpetrators from both Anyuak and Nuer communities.
• 1 Palata was killed by Anyuak.
3. In Abobo Woreda:
• 2 highlanders were killed by Anyuak.
• 3 palata were killed by Anyuak.
4. In Wanthoa Woreda:
• 6 individuals were killed and 7 wounded by Anyuak in an offensive attack ordered by the Agnwa Zone.
5. In Pinyudo Woreda:
• 1 Nuer refugee was killed by Anyuak inside his own house, with no repercussions.
Cumulatively, 39 people were killed in different places at different times, and 74 were wounded, with victims from various ethnic groups. The government's response to this senseless war has been inadequate:
• Instead of apprehending Anyuak criminals or killers, President Omod Ojulu and Vice President Thakuey Joak arrested only Nuer critics who opposed the killings in Gambella. • No Anyuak perpetrators were held accountable for the killings, despite clear statistics indicating their involvement.
• Only the perpetrator of the first killing in Itang town, who was later wounded and taken to Addis Ababa for treatment, was apprehended under the law.
• Omod and Thakuey removed me from my position because I consistently opposed their handling of the situation. They attempted to arrest me, along with innocent Nuer elders who were critics, simply because they disagreed with their biased approach of arresting only one side of the conflict.
If there were only 3 Anyuak killed in this senseless war this year, while 20 Nuers and 9 highlanders were killed, the proportionality suggests that a significant number of Anyuak should be in prison. However, the number of Anyuak arrested seems disproportionate to the casualties on their side. The known instances of Anyuak arrests include:
• 6 individuals from Gambella Woreda for the killing of one person in an ambulance. • 2 individuals from the first bus attacked in their woreda.
• 2 individuals from Itang due to the last bus attack.
• 3 individuals from Gambella Teachers Education and Health Science College, who were unrelated to the killings but were arrested due to their opposition to President Omod's leadership.
Out of the 13 Anyuak arrested, 8 who were detained in Gambella Woreda were subsequently released. However, regarding the Nuer community, a considerable number have been put in jail:
• 28 individuals were arrested, including 7 elders from Gambella and Itang alone. • 6 political leaders were arrested on accusations of carrying out attacks organized by unknown gunmen from various areas, including South Sudan.
• These arrests are deemed unlawful because the invaders went unnoticed due to the wide and open border between Gambella and South Sudan.
• It is argued that no one should be blamed for these killings, as they were not clear even to the Anyuak being attacked.
I wonder how Omod Ojulu managed to convince the Ethiopian Army that those suspected of involvement in the killings must be aware of the war, when neither he nor Thakuey were aware of it themselves. Many attacks took place in Gambella and Itang, and the attackers of four buses were Anyuak, yet Omod never took responsibility for those killings, while his tribesmen fully organized themselves against the Nuer. This suggests that he is a president who protects only his people. It's for this reason that he didn’t want to hold even those leaders in our rank, the Security Council members, accountable, even though they knew what was happening day and night.
The only solution to this senseless war is to be fair in whatever decisions we make. However, most of our decisions are biased based on who is on the leader’s side. Questions arise about individuals like Othow Okoth, who should have been in jail because of many attacks from his own administrative zone, and Othieng Ochan, who didn't arrest a single Anyuak while he was the chairman of the committee sent to Itang to arrest the killers of people, but who turned a blind eye only to Nuer people, leaving 12 Anyuak criminals untouched.
Where is Tut Jock, whose eyes were blinded by power greed? Where is Col Desalegn and Col Kelemu, who thought they were doing the right things by leaving Anyuak criminals untouched and were swayed by money to switch their support to only one ethnic group, seeing others as enemies? Where is Omod Ojulu, who chose to protect only his tribe and ensured that those criminals were not put in jail because he promised not to harm any Anyuak, as those criminals were protecting Anyuak?
Where is Thakuey Jock, the "yes man" who couldn't even decide to tell the truth and arrested those who tried to correct him?
These 12 Anyuak were responsible for the killings in Itang town, Pulkot, Lear, and along the Gambella-Itang road (four buses and one ambulance).
1. Gnikew Gnigwo - Opanya Kebele
2. Ojulu Okal - Pukum Kebele
3. Obang Didumu - Itang Kir Kebele
4. Omod Okok - Adima Kebele
5. Ogura Okello - Awany Kebele
6. Okugn Akway - Itang Kir
7. Thira Obang Cham - Okura Puol Kebele
8. Aluany Ojulu - Ebago Kebele
9. Jakob Chay Donge - Ajew Owalo Kebele
10. Ameneh Othow - Pokedi Kebele
11. Mano Ojulu - Okura Puol kebele
12. Okello Simon - Okura Puol kebele
Those were clearly identified killers from the president’s own tribe, the Anyuak, but he was not acting as a president of all, but of Anyuak only.
• Was President Omod really fair?
• Was Othieng Ochan, the deputy chief of security, fair for not arresting Anyuak killers? • Was Omod Oman fair for not bringing those killers to book?
• Was Tut Jock fair by arresting Gatluak Yang, who didn’t kill anyone?
• Was Colonel Kelemu fair in failing to arrest Anyuak but weighing war against Nuer in the Pulkot area just because of their defensive position?
• Was Colonel Desalegn fair in supporting only one side of the conflict? • Was Othow Okoth fair in weighing against the Wanthoa people in Pior area, which killed 6 and wounded 7, while he was the zonal chief administrator?
• Was our "yes man" Mr. Vice President Thakuey Joak fair by promoting Tut Joak, who can’t convince even a single man to a cabinet position?
• Were these two Presidents correct in assigning Tut Joak to key leadership positions, knowing he is clearly identified as having forged documents?
• Tut was once removed from his position because he had forged documents. How come they assigned him to a cabinet position again?
• Was it not because he sells his own people with money and power? Only God will judge.
With all these questions in mind, everyone with humanity would be eager to know what was actually transpiring. While I was busy returning every offensive coming from every area from the Nuer side, a group that was sent didn’t carry out its duty effectively because they didn’t arrest the needed criminals. Instead, they turned their attention to arresting Gatluak Yang and Wiyual Tharjiath, who had nothing to do with killing anyone.
Now those old people are suffering in prison with different diseases, which became another human rights violation. Some of the elders were arrested just because they wanted two bus stations to be in Gambella town. That was the reason why the following elders were arrested.
• Bol Keat
• Deng Thoal
• Gatwech Gatluak
• Thanchar Kang
• Duol Kek
Were arrested and denied access to Addis Ababa for further treatment. Omod Ojulu and Thakuey Joak act like dictators, exactly by denying.
• Bol Keat and
• Gatluak Yang their right to be treated in Addis Ababa from a hospital of their own choice.
The reason why Omod Ojulu hated me is because I was acting as an angel by preventing the killing of innocent Nuer, Anyuak, and others. This is true because when Nuer plans an attack against the Anyuak because they were enraged by Anyuak action against their people, I was always in the front line to peacefully repulse the offensive back. That always and all the time made Omod Ojulu angry with me. One may wonder why Omod Ojulu was not happy for any offensive Nuer attack against his own tribe. The answer was simple and clear. It’s because President Omod agreed with those EDF colonels to protect Anyuak from any internal aggression that may wipe out his people from nonexistence.
President Omod bribes those colonels to turn their blind eyes from Nuer and protect only Anyuak according to his first promise that he wouldn’t allow anyone to kill Anyuak even if they (Anyuak) did anything wrong. He wishes only genocide to Nuer, and that would happen if and only if EDF soldiers fought Nuer along with Anyuak, and that became a reality one week ago when EDF purposely turned their guns against the defensive power of Nuer community, which resulted in killing soldiers in that fighting.
• Who then will be made responsible for the fighting between the community and the army?
• To me, Colonel Kelemu and Colonel Desalegn should be made responsible because even the death of a single soldier matters the most, and the death of innocent Nuer or Anyuak or anyone else matters the most.
That was the thing I was tired of preventing from happening. I had visited Puldeng or Lear Kebeles many times to prevent any aggression from my Nuer community against Anyuak from occurring, and it did not happen. I had gone to Pulkot many times to prevent any offensive action from them but to act in self-defense if they were attacked, and that also materialized, and no single offensive action had ever gone beyond my control and my team. But after I fled for my own life,
unusual things happened, indicating that genocide against Nuer may occur anytime since Nuer have no one standing for their rights in this senseless war.
Anyuak attacked Nuers in Berbereseb, but the EDF soldiers and the government leaders arrested the ones attacked at their home, whose names were Duop Mark and his brother Manpiny Mark, and their two guns they used to protect themselves, and 80,000 birr were taken away from them. That was another humiliation from Omod Ojulu and his discriminatory government siding with only one tribe. This resulted from yesterday’s bus attack and later will bring another killing in Berbereseb, and the EDF, already being bribed, will not protect them, which is obvious. And to this extent, you couldn’t hear Vice President, a Nuer by tribe, saying anything against neither Omod Ojulu, who was bold in acting against Nuer, nor against EDF acting against Nuer. The yes man Thakuey Joak was nothing in holding that position because the killing of Nuers wouldn’t grant him a license to stay in his position but would only allow him to be put into life imprisonment.
The killing of Nuers could never grant Omod Ojulu a license to stay longer in his position, nor could it grant anyone else such a license. Similarly, the killing of Anyuak and others, which I was very tired of preventing and was successful in doing so, would not grant any leader in his position then. Everyone will be responsible if this war doesn’t stop once and for all. And for this war to stop, we need a leader with a sense of humanity. We need a leader who can see both Nuers and Anyuak as brothers and not as enemies. A leader with the capacity to unite all tribes together, and that leader should never be an Anyuak because they have already failed our people in living together just because of a land that is empty even though all Ethiopians are settled there, which could be enough to feed them all. A land not yet cultivated, a land with lots of opportunities being made useless due to traditional mindsets.
Recommendations
Finally, I suggest that Omod Ojulu and Thakuey Joak be removed from their positions because they have caused the deaths of our people due to their failure to manage this issue properly. They are no longer worthy leaders for our people, and their presence is no longer desired. Enough is enough; the people of Gambella should have the freedom to choose their own leader. A leader who views criminals differently based on their tribe is not suitable for Gambella. We need a leader who sees everyone as equal. We need a leader who abhors killings, lies, and corruption. We need a leader who fairly distributes resources among the people. We don’t need a leader who benefits himself and his tribe at the expense of others. We need a leader who takes the right action, not biased action based on personal perceptions. We need a leader who regards Gambella land as belonging to all its inhabitants, with equal rights for everyone to use it for their own benefit. While most of the arguments presented above are individual opinions and subject to judgment accordingly, all the evidence mentioned is factual and can help our party see the truth that has been hidden from view.
• God bless Prosperity Party,
• God bless Ethiopia,
• God bless Dr, Abiy Ahmed,
• God bless Gambella and its people.
Sincerely,
Chuol Kun Lual
Former Bureau Head of Peace and Security
Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia
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