BOR, JONGLEI STATE — The Bor Community has formally demanded a public apology from the Governor of Jonglei State, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, following remarks he allegedly made during recent public rallies in Twic East and Duk counties concerning the 1991 Bor Massacre.
A strongly worded statement, the Bor Community leadership condemned the Governor’s alleged comments as “irresponsible and derogatory,” accusing him of denying well-documented atrocities committed during the 1991 conflict.
According to the statement, the Governor asserted that “Bor people had left their homes” and that “no person died in Bor during the 1991 Bor Massacre.”
The Bor Community rejected these claims, describing them as historically inaccurate and deeply hurtful to survivors and families of victims.
“Such denial undermines ongoing efforts toward truth, justice, reconciliation, and sustainable peace,” the statement reads. “It dishonors the memory of thousands of innocent civilians who were brutally killed and communities that were destroyed.”
Calls for Retraction and Accountability
In its resolution, the Bor Community issued several demands, including a public and unequivocal retraction of the Governor’s remarks, a formal acknowledgment of the historical facts surrounding the 1991 events, a renewed commitment to truth-telling, reconciliation, and unity, and equal respect for the Bor Community as the host community of Jonglei State.
The statement also urged the National Government to advise state leaders against making remarks that marginalize or disparage any community.
Bor Community leaders however called on residents to remain calm, noting that the matter is being addressed through institutional and leadership channels.
Background: The 1991 SPLA Split and Bor Massacre
The 1991 Bor Massacre occurred in the context of a major split within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) during Sudan’s second civil war.
In August 1991, senior SPLA commanders Dr. Riek Machar, Dr. Lam Akol, and Gordon Kong broke away from the SPLA mainstream faction led by Dr. John Garang, forming what became known as the Nasir faction.
The split was driven by political, ideological, and leadership disagreements, including accusations of authoritarianism and calls for self-determination for Southern Sudan.
In the aftermath of the split, armed conflict erupted between rival SPLA factions. In November 1991, forces aligned with the Nasir faction attacked Bor town and surrounding areas, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians, widespread displacement, destruction of property, and loss of cattle.
The victims were predominantly civilians, and the event has since become one of the most painful and contentious episodes in South Sudanese history.