JUBA – South Sudan’s Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Ateny Wek Ateny, has issued a public correction following strong objections from the Ruweng Administrative Area (RAA) over a statement that placed Panakuach Payam within Unity State.
The clarification, released on Thursday, came after a sharply worded protest from RAA authorities, who said the error risked fuelling long-standing tensions over territorial claims.
The controversy began on 11 December 2025 when Ateny referred to Panakuach Payam as part of Northern Unity State, while addressing the media on recent clashes in Heglig.
The remark immediately sparked backlash from Ruweng officials and communities, who accused the minister of legitimising what they view as persistent attempts by some Unity State actors to annex the disputed territory.
Ruweng Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sport, James Monyluak Mijok Thon, responded the same day with a detailed statement outlining why the minister’s remarks were unacceptable.
He said the people of Ruweng were “very disappointed” and deeply concerned that the comment appeared to validate recurring claims that Panakuach, Tallith (Miadiing) and Unity (Darbiim) belong to Unity State.
According to Monyluak, these claims have been accompanied for years by “daily cross-border cattle raids and killings of innocent civilians,” issues he said had been repeatedly reported to national authorities without meaningful intervention.
Monyluak tied the sensitivity of the situation to recent developments in the wider region. On 8 December, more than 15 trucks of refugees—mostly women, children, elderly people and traders—arrived in Panakuach Payam, fleeing escalating fighting in Sudan’s Western Kordofan region between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The same day, a battalion of 1,700 SAF soldiers in Heglig (Panthou) reportedly made a tactical withdrawal amid fears of an RSF advance.
These movements were followed by high-level SSPDF engagements, with Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Paul Nang and his deputies flying to the Unity oilfields for pre-arranged meetings with RAA and Unity State leaders.
Monyluak claimed that after these meetings, “most media houses aligned to Unity State” began referring to Panakuach as “Payagay Payam North of Unity State” on national broadcaster SSBC—further stoking public anger in Ruweng.
However, less than 24 hours after the backlash, the national ministry moved to de-escalate the situation.
In a statement released on Thursday, 12 December 2025, Chol Duang Chan, Executive Director in the Office of the Minister, acknowledged that Pan-Akuach had been incorrectly identified as part of Unity State during the press briefing. He described the mistake as “an unintentional error,” noting that the ministry had rectified its records and advising media outlets to do the same.
The prompt retraction aimed at calming tensions and reassuring Ruweng residents that the national government recognises Panakuach Payam as part of Aliiny County within the Ruweng Administrative Area.
But whether the clarification fully addresses the underlying territorial grievances remains to be seen, but the ministry’s swift response has prevented the dispute from escalating further at a delicate time for the border communities.
