Leaders from the minority Koma community in Upper Nile State are appealing to President Salva Kiir to give them a separate County.
The leaders have cited political marginalization, unfair distribution of resources, and lack of services to their community.
Koma people have lived alongside the Nuer community for centuries in the Maiwut and Longechuk counties in Upper Nile State.
With an estimated population of over 140, 000, the Koma community says they have been marginalized for years and could not participate in decision-making and affairs of the country.
According to them, they are facing many challenges such as a lack of roads and telecommunication networks, and limited access to health services and basic education.
They also complain about limited support for the empowerment of youth, women, and farmers in the area.
Isaiah Adiqila, the former Chief Whip of the defunct Maiwut State and the Chairperson of the Koma community in Juba says his community has been marginalized for a long time.
He also said they have not been recognized by the Department of Nationality and Passport.
“We are not known because if you go to the department of nationality in Juba, they will say Koma are from where? We come to Eye Radio so that our message can reach all the communities of South Sudan,” said Aiqila.
“Whenever we want to go and acquire the national identity card, they [Department of Nationality and Passport] will tell us that Koma are not existing in South Sudan,
“We also want aid agencies to visit our area because, since the independence of South Sudan, the government or any other agencies have not crossed with service to the area of Koma.”
For his part, Thuruk Deng, an Advisor to the Koma community in Juba believes that having a separate county will enable them to realize some basic services in their area.
“Koma is in two counties, but we are facing a lot of challenges because when you don’t have a county, the development will not reach your area,”
“All our area now does not have a school, no health facility, and no safe drinking water because we don’t have a county and whom are we going to raise our complaint to? Even the person to raise the complaint to is from another community,
“We the Koma are a different community. In Upper Nile, we are about five communities but when it comes to sharing resources, we don’t have our shares.”
According to them, they have been demanding the government create a county for them since 2010.
The Koma community practices subsistence farmers – with dura, sesame, maize, Okra, Banana, Groundnuts, and Pawpaw being their staple food.
They also rear poultry and livestock such as chickens, goats, and other domestic animals.
Due to lack of accessibility, they said most of their local produce remains for home consumption.