File:Name Alier Jacob Age 42 Location Lologo Origin BorName Alier Jacob Age 42 Location Lologo Origin Bor (14286165022).jpg

In June 2013, I was selected to be part of a programme that trained primary school teachers for seven months in remote parts of South Sudan to build their capacity. I was deployed to Pangak in Northern Jongelei and although it’s part of my home state, I had never been there. It is very remote and deep in the village. In addition, I am a Dinka and that is an area populated by Nuer people. I was worried about the language barrier and how I would be able to effectively communicate with the teachers I was charged with for seven months.

Despite my reservations, I decided to go and find out for myself instead of making my own conclusions. Furthermore, it was what I had agreed to do as part of my job. If I did not like it, I always had the option to return to Juba. Three of us had been assigned to Pangak, two Dinka and one Nuer, to train 75 teachers.

When they were not teaching their regular classes or training, they were sharing meals with us and introducing us to their wives and children. We were invited to their homes to break bread and discuss current affairs and also history. We became like family.

The programme successfully came to an end in December 2013. The teachers surprised us by organising a thanksgiving event on 15th December. They gathered the community together and we celebrated our accomplishment and shared our hopes for the future.

Our plan was to leave the next day and did not think it would be risky to do so even with the events taking place in Juba. Although the teachers and community members knew what was happening in the country, they did not change their attitude towards us. We boarded a boat on 16th December. The teachers came with us to say goodbye. Before leaving us, they talked to the boat captain and the other passengers on the boat. ‘These are our teachers and most importantly our friends. Watch over them and make sure they arrive in Malakal safely. If they don’t, you will have to answer to us,’ said one of the teachers. Eight hours later, we arrived in Malakal safe and sound. The teachers had been calling us in those eight hours to find out if we were alright.

The fighting had started in Bor and I found out that I had lost a lot of family members. I had a lot of anger in me when news of these senseless deaths came to me. Deep in anger and grief I asked myself, ‘Are there any good Nuer left?’ This led me to ponder two very dominant and conflicting events.

On one hand, the rest of my family was being killed for being Dinka, a tribe that they did not choose to be. They were killed for no reason other than they were the wrong tribe, in the wrong place and at the wrong time.

On the other hand, I am in Juba, safe with my wife and children only because Nuer people decided to help me, even though I was from a tribe that was in some parts killing their own, even though it was a risk to their lives.

‘I mourn for everyone who has suffered in this conflict. I feel for them because I have family and friends on both sides, Dinka and Nuer. When I think about what was done for me and my colleagues, and the countless lives no doubt saved in a similar fashion, I already know my answer. Yes, there are many good Nuer left.’