Panyikang County, Upper Nile State

DEMOGRAPHY

2008 Census population: 45,427

2020 Population projection*: 64,879

Major ethnic groups and languages: Shilluk/Chollo, Dinka (Padang)

Displacement Figures: 5,514 IDPs and 12,614 returnees (Q1 2020)

January 2020 IPC Projections: Crisis 2020 – Crisis (Phase 3); February to April 2020 – Emergency (Phase 4); May to July – Emergency (Phase 4)

ECONOMY & LIVELIHOODS

Panyikang County is located in Upper Nile State. It borders Malakal County to the north-east and Baliet County to the east. It also borders Unity State (Pariang County) to the west, Jonglei State (Fangak and Canal/Pigi Counties) to the south and Sudan to the north.

The county is categorized as part of the Northern sorghum and cattle livelihood zone (FEWSNET 2018). An estimated 35% of households were engaged in farming in 2019, with other common livelihoods including rearing livestock, fishing, and foraging (FAO & WFP 2019). The main crops are sorghum and maize, as well as pumpkin, cowpeas, simsim (sesame), okra and other garden vegetables. Better-off households keep cattle, goats and sheep. The White Nile slices the county in a V-shape while continuing onto Malakal town. The Sobat River flows along the county’s eastern border before draining into the White Nile. Fishing from the many rivers in the county is seasonal, taking place primarily in the swamps towards the end of the rainy season and into the dry season. Prior to the renewed conflict, the principle hazards were crop pests and livestock disease and flooding.

In 2013, FEWSNET reported low food insecurity in the region given the diversified sources of livelihoods. However, the violence in the region since December 2013 has induced large-scale displacement, disrupted normal farming cycles, and severely imperiled livelihoods. In 2015, an IRNA reported that systematic looting of animals by fighters in the areas left the Panyikang population with few livestock. Whilst FEWSNET reported that these had recovered slightly from 1% livestock ownership in 2018 to 10% in 2019, these are still low compared to historical levels (FEWSNET 2019). Dependence on fishing and farming has therefore increased, although the conflict has disrupted access and cultivation, thereby reducing yields for both. This has led many Panyikang residents to turn to other income-generating activities such as the production of Gum Arab, charcoal and firewood.

Panyikang town is the main local market, and other nearby markets include Malakal, Akoka and New Fangak towns. A REACH report from 2018 indicated high access among the population to local markets. Due to inflation of goods sold in the market however, food access has been impacted and some households have also resorted to bartering. This is compounded by the fact that the county has also experienced a decrease in access to livestock that would traditionally be sold to purchase food, or used to make animal products for consumption.

The cumulative effect of these trends meant that, food security has been volatile, prompting Emergency (IPC phase 4) food insecurity in Panyikang in 2017 and a progression from Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of food insecurity in earl 2020 to Emergency levels (IPC Phase 4) by mid-2020.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES

The HQ for Panyikang County is located in Panyikang town in Tonga payam. Access to potable water in the county is limited, which makes the local population vulnerable to waterborne diseases. As the security situation stabilized following the signing of the peace agreement in 2018, increases in access to healthcare facilities and services were also observed. A 2019 FEWSNET publication reported that while key infrastructure and services had reduced in recent years due to insecurity and conflict, markets supplies were increasing as well as the number of traders operating in the area due to improvements in security. A WFP assessment on Tonga in 2017 revealed that 70% of households were headed by women.

According to OCHA’s Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) for 2020, there are approximately 39,000 people in Panyikang County with significant humanitarian needs. This represents approximately 27% of the estimated population of the county reported in the HNO, with needs particularly prevalent in health and protection. Panyikang is also one of three counties (along with Maiwut and Mundri East) that were reported in the 2020 HNO to have the most restrictive access constraints in 2019 due to active hostilities, constant violence against humanitarian personnel and assets and the physical environment.

Throughout the conflict, Panyikang has received IDPs from other counties. For example, in 2015, MSF reported the arrival of IDPs in the county from Melut following clashes in April of that year. A REACH 2018 report documented the presence of IDPs from Bentiu PoC. FEWSNET also reported an increased number of refugee returnees to Tonga, an estimated 2,300 in total, which has placed additional pressure on local infrastructure and resources.

CONFLICT DYNAMICS

Panyikang County’s location at the borders of Sudan, Unity and Jonglei States, and at the edge of the historical Shilluk Kingdom has made it a flashpoint for conflict dating back decades. This has been reflected in cattle raids, local violence and the presence of a high number of small arms. Common drivers of conflict identified through community consultations held in 2012 included disputes over borders and land, the widespread presence of firearms, and competition for water (UNDP 2012). In the pre-CPA era, inter-communal violence led to the displacement of the communities that had been longstanding residents of the area. In 2011 land and border disputes with groups from Baliet were observed between the Shilluk and Dinka.

Panyikang County was a site of contested control between SPLA and SPLA-IO forces during the first years of the conflict (2014-2017). During this time, the local aims of Johnson Olonyi’s “Agwelek” Shilluk armed forces were to secure the Shilluk kingdom in western Upper Nile State, including Panyikang County. These aims initially aligned with the national aims of the army to defeat the SPLA–IO. Olonyi was made a commander for the SPLA having recently re-integrated from a prior defection. Initially, he and other Shilluk leaders fought in support of the government and eventually helped to drive the SPLA-IO into Sudan.

Following the defeat of the SPLA-IO in western Upper Nile State, underlying tensions between the Shilluk and Padang Dinka communities reemerged. Padang Dinka communities have long stressed a claim to the Anakdiar payam on the east bank of the White Nile and have received support in advocating for these claims. Tensions escalated in April 2015 over the killing of a senior Shilluk military figure and were further aggravated by changes in the administrative landscape of the country. In October 2015, the government’s decision to transition from 10 to 28 states made Panyikang County a non-contiguous southern part of the new Western Nile State. Malakal County – which had been allotted to the new Eastern Nile State – separated Panyikang County from the new state’s northern portion – composed of Fashoda and Manyo counties. This was perceived to weaken Western Nile’s State ability to govern itself and left its Shilluk population reliant on Eastern Nile State for safe passage between its two halves. More generally, the Shilluk community viewed the plan as the most recent iteration of Dinka groups taking over Shilluk territory in Upper Nile State.

In May 2016, Olonyi defected from the SPLA, formed the Agwelek Forces in Panyikang and Fashoda counties, and attacked Malakal town. His forces took temporary control of Malakal and campaigned north, before being stopped by the SPLA 1st Division at Melut. Most of Panyikang County and much of the west bank of the White Nile have been primarily under the control of Shilluk forces, such as the Agwelek Forces, after February 2016. The east bank of the river – and corresponding parts of Panyikang County – is firmly under the control of the SPLA and its associated (mostly Dinka) militia forces. The SPLA forced Olonyi’s Agwelek to withdraw from the immediate riverbank – which deprived Shilluk civilians of sorely needed access to a river – and used its air power to attack positions on the west bank, including Owach and Tonga. As of June 2020, the Agwelek and SPLA-IO controlled the three payams of Tonga, Panyikang, and Pakang while Dinka militias and the SSPDF control Dhethiem, Panyiwai and Anakdiar payams.
A 2018 report by REACH indicated that 60% of assessed settlements reported the forced recruitment of men and boys in the area. In early 2020, South Sudan returned to the original 10-state arrangement, and Panyikang County became a part of Upper Nile State again.

ADMINISTRATION & LOGISTICS

Payams: Tonga (County HQ), Anakdiar, Dhethiem, Pakang, Panyidwai, Panyikang, Tonga
Roads

• Several roads intersect in Panyikang County before continuing on to Alelo, adjacent to Malakal town, Upper Nile State’s capital. These include the Malakal-Bor-Juba, Malakal-Nasir, and Malakal-Bentiu, Tonga – Liri (to Sudan`s White Nile State). Seasonal road conditions are unknown.

UNHAS-Recognized Heli-Landing-Sites and Airstrips: None
Other Heli-landing sites and airstrips listed by local actors: Tonga

REFERENCES

FAO. (2017). Provision of FSL pipeline to protect livelihoods of crisis affected populations – Jonglei and Upper Nile. Retrieved from:
https://www.google.com/search/ACTED/lievlihoo/classification/report/Panyikang

FAO & WFP. (2019). Special Report: FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to South Sudan. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/ca3643EN/ca3643en.pdf

FEWSNET. (2018). Livelihoods Zone Map and Descriptions for the Republic of South Sudan (Updated).

FEWSNET. (2019). Risk of farming (IPC phase 5) will persist in 2020 despite slight improvements during harvesting period. Retrieved from: https://fews.net/east-africa/south-sudan/food-security-outlook/october-2019

FEWSNET. (2020). Risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) persists, though slight improvements expected with reduced conflict. Retrieved from: www.fes.net/south-sudan

IRNA. (2015). IRNA Report: Nyilwak, Panyikang Payam, Upper Nile State, 18 August 2015. Retrieved from: https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/irna-report-nyilwak-panyikang-payam-upper-nile-state-18-august-2015

OCHA. (2019). Humanitarian Needs Overview: South Sudan 2020.

REACH. (2018). Situation Overview: Upper Nile: October to December 2018. Retrieved from: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/reach_ssd_situation_overview_upper_nile_october-december_2018.pdf

UNDP. (2012). Community Consultation Report: Upper Nile State, South Sudan. May 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/southsudan/library/Documents/CSAC%20Reports/UNDP-SS-UpperNile-consult-12.pdf

WFP. (2018). South Sudan—Rapid Appraisal Tonga, Panyikang County, October 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.wfp.org/publications/south-sudan-rapid-appraisal-tonga-panyikang-october-2017

REPORTS on PANYIKANG

Arnold, M & Alden, C. (2007). “The Gun Is Our Food”: Demilitarising the White Army Militas of South Sudan. Retrieved from: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/35371/722_DemilitarisingWhiteArmyMilitias.pdf

Craze, J. (2019). Displaced and Immiserated: The Shilluk of Upper Nile in South Sudan’s Civil War, 2014-19. Retrieved from http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/reports/HSBA-Report-South-Sudan-Shilluk.pdf

DRC. (2018). Panyikang and Tonga Protection Assessment. Retrieved from: https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-rapid-appraisal-tonga-panyikang-county-october-2017

HSBA. (2011). Fighting for spoils: Armed insurgencies in Greater Upper Nile. Retrieved from: http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/issue-briefs/HSBA-IB-18-Armed-insurgencies-Greater-Upper-Nile.pdf

HSBA. (2016). The Conflict in Upper Nile State. Retrieved from: http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/facts-figures/south-sudan/conflict-of-2013-14/the-conflict-in-upper-nile.html

REACH. (2020). Situation Overview: Upper Nile State, South Sudan January—March 2020. Retrieved from: https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/situation-overview-upper-nile-state-south-sudan-january-march-2020

Short, A. (2015). Cattle and Pastoralism in Greater Upper Nile Research Report

Young, H. Cormack, Z. (2012). Pastoralism in the New Borderlands: Cross-border Migrations, Conflict and Peace-Building. Retrieved from: https://fic.tufts.edu/assets/Pastoralism-in-the-New-Borderlands.pdf