22/11/2025
THE NATIONAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT'S DELAYS TO RESOLVE THE LOPIT-PARI COUNTY NAMING DISPUTE.
The long-running dispute over the name of the county shared by the Lopit and Pari communities in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, stands as a stark testament to the persistent challenges facing the government of South Sudan in resolving localized ethnic and administrative grievances.
What began as a disagreement over nomenclature, specifically between 'LOPA' (Lopit Pari) and 'Lafon' (preferred by the Pari, based on a local hill), has metastasized into a decade-long political deadlock.
This protracted failure, initially rooted in the State government's perceived misstep in the county creation process, now demands urgent, decisive action from the highest office to prevent a fragile peace and unity between the two communities from collapsing.
The most telling feature of this dispute is the remarkable fact that, despite the political and administrative tension, large-scale, sustained conflict has largely been averted. As I rightly point out, these two communities possess a deep-seated desire for peace and cohesion. Historical ties, including trade and mutual assistance during crises, underscore a foundation of shared existence.
The relative absence of open warfare, especially given the history of ethnic violence in South Sudan, suggests that the conflict is not fundamentally a grassroots communal feud, but rather a political and administrative crisis that has been imposed upon the communities.
The communities have not been inherently driven to fight, but rather have been placed in a state of political competition over a symbol of power the county name, which dictates the administrative headquarters and the flow of resources.
The fact that the "marginalized" community, or any community for that matter, has not yet been driven to widespread violence highlights a resilience and preference for dialogue at the local level. However, this non-violent patience is finite and is being sorely tested by the government's inability to provide a final, mutually accepted resolution.
WHY THE SOLUTION REMAINS ELUSIVE: The difficulty for the national government in settling this matter stems from a confluence of factors that are deeply embedded in South Sudan's broader political landscape:
SYMBOLISM AS A ZERO-SUM GAME: The county name has transcended mere geography; it is a symbol of political ascendancy, administrative control, and the locus of development funds.
The perception is that if the county is named 'Lafon,' the Pari community gains administrative dominance (and thus, resources), and vice-versa for the Lopit with 'LOPA' (or a place like Imehejek). In the absence of guaranteed, equitable resource distribution, both names represent a high-stakes, zero-sum competition that politicians from both sides have exploited.
STATE-LEVEL FAILURE AND PASSING THE BUCK: The original spark was the promulgation of the county name (Lafon) in the early 2000s, reportedly overriding a locally-agreed-upon alternative (LOPA).
This initial administrative failure by the State government created a grievance that has never been fully addressed. By allowing the issue to fester for a decade, the Eastern Equatoria State authorities have effectively pushed a local administrative problem up to the national level, complicating the President's already burdened agenda.
NATIONAL PREOCCUPATION: The government has been, and remains, intensely preoccupied with the fragile Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS), national political infighting (especially with Riek Machar's faction), economic crises, and other major inter-communal conflicts (e.g., cattle raids, border issues).
This national focus has relegated the Lopit-Pari issue, seen by Juba as a 'minor' local conflict, to a low-priority bureaucratic file, despite its decade-long duration.
Flawed Temporary Fixes: Attempts at resolution, such as the Governor's 2023 declaration of Imehejek as an 'Administrative Area' (carved from the disputed territory), are often viewed as temporary, politically motivated measures.
Such moves, especially if seen as violating the terms of the R-ARCSS regarding administrative restructuring, can intensify, rather than resolve, ethnic differences by creating new power centers without addressing the underlying grievance over the original county's identity.
THE NEED FOR PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION: The current stability is built on the sand of community restraint, not on the concrete of a settled administrative solution. The failure of the state and national government to deliver a lasting answer is a profound risk.
THE LONGER THE DISPUTE REMAINS UNRESOLVED, THE HIGHER THE CHANCES THAT:
Trust in Governance Erodes: Communities lose faith in the government's ability to govern fairly, opening the door for opportunistic leaders to incite violence.
The Problem Becomes Militarized: Political frustrations are increasingly expressed through violent means, eventually replacing dialogue and historical cohesion with armed conflict.
President Salva Kiir's personal intervention is now paramount. A lasting resolution would not only secure peace in Eastern Equatoria but would also serve as a powerful signal that his government can effectively manage and resolve localized ethnic-administrative conflicts, not just the national-level political disputes. The core of a solution must move beyond mere naming to include a comprehensive package that guarantees:
Equitable Resource Sharing: Transparent mechanisms for distributing development funds and job opportunities regardless of the county name or headquarters.
A Principled Final Decision: A definitive, transparent, and legally sound ruling on the administrative status, perhaps via a dedicated, independent commission as previously suggested, or a top-down presidential decree that balances the need for historical recognition with administrative practicality.
The time for Eastern Equatoria to settle a decade-old debt is now. The peace-loving nature of the Lopit and Pari communities is not a substitute for effective governance, and their patience must not be mistaken for permanent acquiescence.
By: Dominique Oromo Vigilio
The Concern Citizen of Disputed Lopa County, Eastern Equatoria State, Torit.
