Authorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have halted a planned lawsuit against Jonglei State following violent attacks on traders in Bor Town last month.
Acting Minister of Information, Bol Akuar Gamar, confirmed that the initiative to raise funds for legal action had been officially canceled.
“The ongoing fundraising initiative to pursue legal action against the Jonglei State government over the September 12 incident in Bor has been officially cancelled,” Akuar stated.
According to Akuar, the government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal has opted for dialogue with Jonglei State authorities to pursue justice and accountability for the victims.
“If legal actions become necessary in the future, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State government will assume responsibility for all related costs,” he added, signaling that the government intends to control the process rather than allow youth-led initiatives.
The dispute stems from an incident in the Panliet suburb of Bor Town, where traders from Northern Bahr el Ghazal were assaulted in mid-September.
The attack reportedly left several individuals seriously injured and caused substantial property losses.
In response, youth groups from Northern Bahr el Ghazal mobilized and filed a lawsuit against the Jonglei state government, accusing it of failing to arrest the attackers and protect the victims.
Youth activist Ngor Deng Matem defended the legal action, arguing that it was not solely about arrests but about ensuring justice and accountability.
“What we are looking for is not only an arrest. We are seeking justice. We have already engaged advocates to act on our behalf,” Matem told reporters during the launch of the legal initiative.
The cancellation of the lawsuit reflects the state government’s effort to manage interstate relations carefully.
By halting the lawsuit, officials in Northern Bahr el Ghazal appear to be signaling a preference for dialogue and cooperation over legal confrontation.
Analysts note that the government’s move could help ease tensions between the youth of the two states at a time when national authorities are calling for greater unity ahead of the planned general elections.
However, authorities in Jonglei state have accused a group calling itself the Red Belt of carrying out a month-long violence in the state.
The officials of Jonglei state recount a series of attacks allegedly carried out by the Red Belt groups, which they have categorized as a criminal group.
Governor Riek Gai Kok of Jonglei state linked the September 12, 2025, Bor incident, which left a group of young entrepreneurs from Northern Bahr el Ghazal assaulted and property looted, to the Redbelt Group.
