South Sudan’s Aliab Community seeks compensation from UK over killing of 400 people

JUBA – Members of Aliab Community whose relatives were killed by British colonial forces centuries ago are demanding compensation from the UK government.

British soldiers during the Anglo-Egyptian Administration in Sudan killed about 400 Dinka Aliab and displaced several others between 1919 and 1920 respectively.

In addition, 14,000 heads of cattle were looted and houses torched.

The community leaders are demanding compensation from the British government for these heinous crimes committed against their ancestors, according to a statement sent to Johny Baxter, the British Ambassador to South Sudan.

They wanted the compensation to be translated to developmental projects.

“The community wanted compensation that could be translated to developmental projects such as schools, hospitals, roads, local court centers, fishing and agricultural training centers, and veterinary clinics,” said a statement seen by Sudans Post.

“We have been made happy by a statement made by national leaders of some Western European Countries that they would give compensation to Africans who were ill-treated during the colonial time,” it added.

The group said they have been inspired by Kenya, where victims of the suppression of Mau Mau uprising received 20 million British Pounds compensation from the United Kingdom in 2013.

“The Aliab people have heard of the compensation made in the U.K for Mau Mau survivors for injuries they sustained from British Administration officers at the time Kenya was a colony,” it said.

“The outcome has encouraged the Aliab people to demand compensation for their relatives who were killed and wealth destroyed or looted during a period when Sudan was a colony of the British,” it added.

State house is commonly known as J-1 and Central Equatoria State Government Secretarial were built from 14,000 heads of cattle looted by the British Administration from Aliab Dinka.