Twic County, Warrap State

DEMOGRAPHY

2008 Census population: 204,905

2020 Population projection*: 262,546

Ethnic groups and languages: Dinka (Twic Mayaardit)

Displacement Figures: 28,228 IDPs and 723 returnees (Q1 2020)

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

ECONOMY & LIVELIHOODS

Twic County is located in Warrap State. It borders Gogrial West County to the south-west and Gogrial East County to the south-east. It also borders Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State (Aweil East County) to the west, Abyei Administrative Area to the north and Unity State (Abiemnhom and Mayom Counties) to the east.

The county is categorized under the western floodplains sorghum and cattle livelihoods zone (FEWSNET, 2018). The River Lol(l) flows from Gogrial West (where it is called Akon River) through Twic County (where it is called the Wunrok River) into Unity State. Some areas of Twic County are completely inaccessible during the state’s rainy season (July-December) with up to 70% of the county under water. In 2018 it was reported that 55% of households engage in agriculture (FAO & WFP, 2018). Other primary livelihoods include cattle rearing, fishing and other activities, including trading. The county’s major crops include sorghum, maize, groundnuts, simsim (sesame), vegetables, millet and cassava. A 2019 FAO and WFP report noted the use of ox-ploughs in the area, which assists in cultivating higher crop yields.

In December 2015, the IPC updated its projections for food security in Twic from Stressed (IPC Phase 2) to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels. In 2020, the county is anticipated to remain in Crisis level at least until mid-year. Before independence, Warrap State traditionally depended on food surpluses from Abyei, but security conditions disrupted food supplies from the north until recently. Unusual rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells have also impacted maintain household food supplies through cultivation and displaced cattle herds on which communities were reliant for milk to supplement their diet. Inflation in the local markets, such as Turalei and Wunrok, has made goods unaffordable for many, leading households to increasingly forage for wild foods. Others have opted to migrate to Abyei and Sudan to find other means of livelihoods and income generation.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES

According to OCHA’s (2019) Humanitarian Needs Overview for 2020, over 170,000 people in Twic County have significant humanitarian needs, which is approximately 178% of the estimated population for Twic County reported in the HNO. This is one of the highest numbers observed in the country, and places significant pressure on local infrastructure and resources. The fact this is over 100% may reflect the reality that population estimates for Twic County were too low and/or that many of those in need in Twic County are IDPs/refugees displaced from neighbouring areas or returnees that were not present in the county at the time of the last census on which estimates are based.

The county is prone to annual floods with similar consequences each year, which have a detrimental impact on roads and trade routes. In 2018, a REACH assessment revealed increased food insecurity as a result of flooding which destroyed shelters and crops. Healthcare facilities in the area are difficult to access when roads and footpaths are flooded, and often do not have sufficient supplies. In particular, GBV needs of the population are observed to be among the highest in South Sudan with Twic County one of fourteen counties in South Sudan regarded as having “extreme” GBV needs in 2020 (OCHA 2019). In 2020, UNMISS committed to building a courthouse for the county. Additionally, before reverting back to the 10-state arrangement this year, consultations had taken place in Twic and Juba to determine that Mayen-Abun would serve as the new state capital for Twic State.

CONFLICT DYNAMICS

Pastoralists throughout Warrap State, Unity State, and Abyei migrate during the dry season, in search of water in various parts of northeastern and eastern Warrap State. Misseriya nomads from West Darfur and Abyei traditionally cross into Twic during this time. Competition over resources and cattle raiding between Arab Misseriya and Twic and Rek Dinka communities has led to periodic conflicts. In addition, general conflict events in Abyei have a direct spillover effect into Twic County, with fighting and refugees disrupting local livelihoods.

In July 2013, Twic County was party to the Gogrial Agreement, along with Aweil East, Aweil South and Gogrial West. This outlined a commitment to peace among relevant communities and included various recommendations relating to arbitration, resource sharing, early warning systems and agreement of punitive measures. In 2017, CEPO reported cattle raids in Twic County from former Northern Liech State (what is now part of Unity State). In May 2019, clashes with militia from Northern Liech state led to 22 people being killed, 18 injured and 3,000 cattle stolen (Radio Tamazuj 2019a). Government soldiers were sent to the area to stabilize the situation. In the same year, the United Nations noted the recruitment of soldiers in the county, despite the implementation of a ceasefire and peace agreement (UNSC 2019).

Twic’s northern border with Abyei is also a key source of tension between North and South Sudan. As noted above Misseriya nomads from Sudan and Abyei traditionally cross into Warrap State during the dry season. This often results in increased tensions and conflict over resources with local Twic Dinka communities. A consultative conference aimed at improving the relationship between the Dinka communities from Twic (and Gogrial West) and the Misseriya Awlad Kamil of Sudan occurred in September 2015. Subsequently, in 2018 and 2019 Twic County was invited to participate in peace talks in Aweil East regarding cattle migration conducted by the Misseriya. Finally, clashes with cattle raiders from Mayom County have also been reported as recently as 2019 (Radio Tamazuj 2019b) and 2020 (Eye Radio 2020).

Throughout the recent civil war, the SPLA/M remained dominant in Twic County. Between 2015 and 2020 the county was administered as part of Twic State and further sub-divided into six counties, though the county was re-integrated into Warrap State when the government reverted to the 10-state arrangement in February 2020. In February 2016, as the new peace agreement was being implemented, the former Twic State Governor reported that no SPLA-IO members had lobbied for appointments in Twic State, even though opposition leadership is entitled to 15% state executive positions according to terms of August 2015 peace deal. The relocation of the administrative headquarters from Turalei to Mayen-Abun when Twic was upgraded from a county to state has been the source of significant tension (Eye Radio 2019).

ADMINISTRATION & LOGISTICS

Payams: Turalei (previous County Headquarters, currently disputed), Aweng, Wunrok, Panyok, Akoc, Ajak Kuac
Roads:

• A Primary road north-south from Western Bahr el Ghazal through Twic. The road splits at Wunrok, continuing due north to Abyei and northeast through Turalei into Unity State. The road leading to Abyei was closed during the rainy season but open during the rainy season in 2019, according to the Logistics Cluster.

UNHAS-recognised Heli and Fixed-Wing Airplane Airstrips: None

REFERENCES

CEPO. (2017). 20 cattle raided in Awng County, Twic state. Retrieved from http://cepo-southsudan.org/incident-report/20-cattle-raided-aweng-county-twic-state

Eye Radio. (2019). Kiir directs Twic governor to resolve Mayen-Abun/Turalei wrangles. 23 August 2019. Retrieved from https://eyeradio.org/kiir-directs-twic-governor-to-resolve-mayen-abun-turalei-wrangles

Eye Radio. (2020). A dozen soldiers reportedly killed in Mayom. 1 June 2020. Retrieved from https://eyeradio.org/a-dozen-soldiers-reportedly-killed-in-mayom

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

FAO & WFP. (2018). 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).

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

Radio Tamazuj. (2019a). Twic clashes ‘claim dozens of lives’. Retrieved from https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/twic-clashes-claim-dozens-of-lives

Radio Tamazuj. (2019b). Violent clashes reported in Twic State. Retrieved from https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/violent-clashes-reported-in-twic-state

REACH. (2018). Gogrial West, Twic and Mayom Counties Food Security and Livelihoods Profile. South Sudan, October 2018. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/reach_ssd_profile_gogrialsmayom_ra_05122018.pdf

UNSC. (2019). Letter dated 20 November 2019 from the Panel of Experts on South Sudan addressed to the President of the Security Council. Retrieved from https://www.undocs.org/pdf?symbol=en/S/2019/897

REPORTS on TWIC

IOM. (2013). Village Assessment Survey: County Atlas. Retrieved from https://iomsouthsudan.org/tracking/sites/default/publicfiles/documents/warrap_twic_atlas.pdf