Unity Over Division: A Call to Upper Nile’s People

Hon. David Nyang K. Minister of Cabinet Affairs (UNS)

Malakal, 29/01/2026

By David Nyang – As a Concerned Citizen…

As a concerned citizen of Upper Nile State, I write with a heavy heart amid the rising tribal rhetoric from figures like Gen. Johnson Olony. His words risk tearing at the fabric of our shared heritage, but we must reject this poison. Our Nuer, Shilluk, and other communities have intermarried for generations, forging families, farms, and futures that no politician can erase. Leaders driven by self-interest or fleeting power plays seek to polarize us, turning neighbors into enemies for their gain. Regimes rise and fall, but our people endure as they have for centuries bound by the Nile’s waters, common markets, and mutual survival. We cannot let Olony’s divisive language or similar voices exploit our differences; instead, prioritize dialogue, shared resources, and peace that outlasts any administration.

I call on all South Sudanese leaders, across parties, tribes, and ranks to immediately stop inflammatory rhetoric and cease polarizing our people for personal or political gain. Your words carry the weight of history; choose unity over division, and lead by example in fostering the harmony our nation desperately needs.

Nuer and Shilluk bloodlines intertwine through marriages that symbolize our unity, from village weddings to cross-community cattle herding. Our interests align in education for our children, security for our lands, and prosperity beyond tribal lines. Let us stand firm: no external agenda should fracture what history has woven together. Upper Nile’s strength lies in our collective resolve, united, we thrive; divided, we all lose.