Mankien
Encyclopedia
Mankien is a community in Unity state in South Sudan
. With a key location near the oil fields, the town changed hands more than once during the Second Sudanese Civil War
(1983-2005). In April 2011 the town was once again the scene of conflict between militia and government troops.
, to the southwest of Mayom
.
Mankien is mainly inhabited by Bul Nuer people. The town lies within the Block 4 oil concession.
By mid-1998, Unity State was experiencing pre-famine conditions due to the disruption of the civil war. In December 1998 the World Food Program delivered its first shipment of food for four months to Mankien.
In July 1999 SSDN Commander Tito Biel
, who had been given ammunition by the SPLA, launched an attack on Paulino Matiep's forces and pushed them back almost to their headquarters in Mankien. This was interpreted as a struggle between different pro-government militias over who would control the oil fields.
In September 1999 Commander Peter Gatdet defected from the government and took control of Mankien and its supplies of arms and ammunition.
There were reports that the government of Sudan was bombing Mankien towards the end of that month. Civilians were killed or injured, including some who had fled from Mayom. The government refused aid workers flight access to the town, indicating that they has lost control.
Renewed bombings were reported in March 2000.
In April 2000 the town was controlled still by Peter Gatdet. Khartoum launched an offensive of several hundred Baggara horsemen supported by artillery, gunships and Antonovs. Peter Gadet managed to repel the government forces.
In January 2002 Mankien was controlled by the Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA) and had a large population of displaced people. The government began an offensive of high-altitude bombing from Antonov's, causing random casualties to the civilians. Before dawn on 27 January 2002 government troops and militias attacked the town, supported by helicopter gunships. There were many casualties and the town was destroyed.
In May 2002 the SPLA lost Mankien to the Paulino Matiep's militia.
.
In April 2011 the town was briefly occupied by forces loyal to the renegade general Peter Gadet
before being re-taken by troops of the SPLA.
A spokesman for Peter Gadet said the fight was only with the SPLA, and no civilians would be harmed.
After further fighting in May 2011, when Peter's forces attacked Mankien from his home village of Ruadnyibol, the Mayom county
commissioner said that about 7,800 huts had been burned.
While reporting on mine clearance operations around Mankien, the project manager for Norwegian People's Aid said "Unity State remains one of the most contaminated states in South Sudan, with a high number of Dangerous Areas, several minefields and a high number of abandoned ordnance contaminating huge areas of land".
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
. With a key location near the oil fields, the town changed hands more than once during the Second Sudanese Civil War
Second Sudanese Civil War
The Second Sudanese Civil War started in 1983, although it was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originated in southern Sudan, the civil war spread to the Nuba mountains and Blue Nile by the end of the 1980s....
(1983-2005). In April 2011 the town was once again the scene of conflict between militia and government troops.
Location
Mankien is in Mayom CountyMayom County
Mayom County is an administrative region in Unity State of South Sudan to the west of Bentiu. The county headquarters is Mayom town.-Location:Mayom County is in the northwest of Unity State.The largest town is Mayom...
, to the southwest of Mayom
Mayom, South Sudan
Mayom is a community in Unity State of South Sudan to the west of Bentiu. It is the headquarters of Mayom County.-Location:Mayom was a major cattle trading center in Western Upper Nile , in Bul Nuer territory....
.
Mankien is mainly inhabited by Bul Nuer people. The town lies within the Block 4 oil concession.
Civil war
In March 1998, Major General Paulino Matiep announced the formation of his South Sudan Unity Army (SSUA) based in Mankien, with Bul Nuer boys and men armed by the government.By mid-1998, Unity State was experiencing pre-famine conditions due to the disruption of the civil war. In December 1998 the World Food Program delivered its first shipment of food for four months to Mankien.
In July 1999 SSDN Commander Tito Biel
Tito Biel
Tito Biel Chuor was a high-ranking commander in the South Sudan Defense Forces during the Second Sudanese Civil War ....
, who had been given ammunition by the SPLA, launched an attack on Paulino Matiep's forces and pushed them back almost to their headquarters in Mankien. This was interpreted as a struggle between different pro-government militias over who would control the oil fields.
In September 1999 Commander Peter Gatdet defected from the government and took control of Mankien and its supplies of arms and ammunition.
There were reports that the government of Sudan was bombing Mankien towards the end of that month. Civilians were killed or injured, including some who had fled from Mayom. The government refused aid workers flight access to the town, indicating that they has lost control.
Renewed bombings were reported in March 2000.
In April 2000 the town was controlled still by Peter Gatdet. Khartoum launched an offensive of several hundred Baggara horsemen supported by artillery, gunships and Antonovs. Peter Gadet managed to repel the government forces.
In January 2002 Mankien was controlled by the Sudan People's Liberation Army
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
(SPLA) and had a large population of displaced people. The government began an offensive of high-altitude bombing from Antonov's, causing random casualties to the civilians. Before dawn on 27 January 2002 government troops and militias attacked the town, supported by helicopter gunships. There were many casualties and the town was destroyed.
In May 2002 the SPLA lost Mankien to the Paulino Matiep's militia.
Later events
After the civil war, a team found that 4% of people around Mankien were blind, and almost 8% more had poor vision, mainly due to untreated diseases such as TrachomaTrachoma
Trachoma is an infectious disease causing a characteristic roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. Also called granular conjunctivitis and Egyptian ophthalmia, it is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world...
.
In April 2011 the town was briefly occupied by forces loyal to the renegade general Peter Gadet
Peter Gadet
Peter Yak Gadet is a former Sudan People's Liberation Army general who is now the leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army , the largest rebel movement in South Sudan....
before being re-taken by troops of the SPLA.
A spokesman for Peter Gadet said the fight was only with the SPLA, and no civilians would be harmed.
After further fighting in May 2011, when Peter's forces attacked Mankien from his home village of Ruadnyibol, the Mayom county
commissioner said that about 7,800 huts had been burned.
While reporting on mine clearance operations around Mankien, the project manager for Norwegian People's Aid said "Unity State remains one of the most contaminated states in South Sudan, with a high number of Dangerous Areas, several minefields and a high number of abandoned ordnance contaminating huge areas of land".