Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State

DEMOGRAPHY

2008 NBS Census population: 99,740
2021 NBS PES population estimate*: 98,491
2022 UN OCHA population estimate*: 63,096

Ethnic groups: Otuho/Lotuko, Lokoya

Displacement Figures Q3 2022: 1,303 IDPs (-1,196 Q1 2020) and 2,568 returnees (-5,727 Q1 2020)
IPC Food Security: November 2022 – Crisis (Phase 3); IPC Projections: December to March 2023 – Crisis (Phase 3); April to July 2023 – Crisis (Phase 3)

ECONOMY & LIVELIHOODS

Torit County is located in Eastern Equatoria State. It borders Lafon County to the north, Budi County to the east, Ikotos County to the south-east, and Magwi County to the south-west. It also borders Central Equatoria State (Juba County) to the west.

The county falls within the highland forest and sorghum livelihoods zone (FEWSNET 2018). Due to the diversity of different ethnic groups living in Torit County, both agriculture and cattle-keeping are considered to be the primary livelihoods practiced by residents. A FAO and WFP report from 2018 estimates that 75% of households engage in agriculture. The same estimate was reported in data from 2021 (FAO/WFP 2022). In 2021, gross cereal yields were estimated to be 0.8 tonnes per hectare, increasing to 0.9 tonnes per hectare in 2022 (FAO/WFP 2023). The presence of rivers, particularly the Kinyeti River, in the county also makes fishing a viable livelihood. The main crops grown are millet, cassava, sorghum, fruits and vegetables. However, most households still engage in cultivation at below subsistence levels, relying on the market to meet their food needs. Apart from cultivation, cattle rearing is also a key livelihood practice among the communities in Torit counties. Torit County receives migratory cattle keepers from neighbouring Jonglei state during the dry season, as they seek grazing land for their cattle as well as access to all-season water sources, although this is to a lesser extent than several other counties in the state.

The IPC projected the county as being at a crisis (IPC level 3) level of food insecurity in November 2022, with conditions projected to persist at the same level until at least mid-2023. Conflict and displacement have interrupted livelihoods patterns and combined with climatic conditions have led to reduced agricultural productivity and undermined subsistence agriculture. Residents face challenges in turning to local markets to supplement their food sources due to low supplies resulting from insecure roads, as well as inflation following the financial crisis.

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES

As Torit Town is the state capital of Eastern Equatoria and the headquarters of Torit County, much of the state’s infrastructure and services are centralized in this area. The town hosts an UNMISS base, as well as schools (including at the secondary level), health facilities, a major market as well as local religious institutions such as the Catholic Diocese. In 2019, unusually high rainfalls in South Sudan led to flooding in many counties, including Torit.

Torit County is home to twenty-five (25) Early Childhood Development centres, sixty-two (62) primary schools and six (6) secondary schools. Five of the secondary schools are located in Torit payam while Hiyala Secondary is located in its namesake of Hiyala Payam.

Torit County was reported to have forty-three (43) health facilities including thirty-nine (39) functional health facilities, among them thirty (30) PHCUs, eight (8) PHCCs and one (1) hospital in 2022. This means that there were an estimated 6.91 PHCUs per 15,000 people and 5.56 PHCCs per 50,000 people according to the WHO, which ranks Torit as among the ten counties with the highest ratios of PHCUs/person in South Sudan. Torit Civil Hospital was reported to be moderately functional.

According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview for 2023, there are over 43,000 people in the county with humanitarian needs (up from 31,100 in 2021), which accounts for approximately 68% of the estimated population for Torit County reported in the HNO. The 2021 HNO report also states that Torit is one of eight Equatorian counties with the highest levels of contamination of landmines in South Sudan.

CONFLICT DYNAMICS

Torit holds a great significance in South Sudan’s history of rebellion against the government of Sudan. The Torit Mutiny, which is often said to have sparked the First Sudanese Civil War, occurred in 1955. Following initial SPLM/A operations in Torit in 1986, Torit also became the operational headquarters of the SPLM/A following its capture in 1989. After the 1991 SPLM/A split, the Garang-led movement became known as the SPLM/A-Torit faction.

The SPLM/A-Torit faction was ultimately dislodged from Torit in 1992 following a government offensive, paving the way for a number of local commanders to either join the breakaway SPLM/A-Nasir faction or establish smaller militias of their own, resulting in factionalised fighting and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Torit area (Kurimoto 2004; pp.42-43; Simonse 2000, pp.24-25). Violence among parts of the Otuho/Lotuko community also escalated markedly as the 1990s progressed, with localised conflict becoming enmeshed in the wider war between the SPLM/A, the Sudanese government, and their various affiliates. By 1994 there was increasing momentum for peace and reconciliation initiatives, leading to the ‘All Otuho Peace Conference’ organised with support from Bishop Paride Taban in early 1995, with follow-up conferences with neighbouring communities from present-day Budi and Ikotos counties taking place in late 1996 and early 1997 (Simonse 2000, p.22, 27, 33). While the initiatives did not stop conflict and cattle raiding altogether – with violence significantly affecting Hiyala Payam in 1997 – there was a general improvement in security in the area, and the initiative represented an important achievement for proponents of civilian-led peacebuilding.

SPLM/A forces eventually retook Torit in September 2002, when SPLM/A forces occupied the town for two months. Coming in the wake of the Machakos Protocol (the foundational document of what would become the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement) that had been agreed upon several weeks prior, the SPLM/A’s recapture of Torit prompted a suspension of ongoing peace negotiations (Young 2012, p.101).

As in other parts of the Equatoria region, loyalty towards the SPLM/A was tested by the heavy-handed approaches to administration and the perceived Dinka dominance of the organization. As such, civilians in Torit were exposed to various predatory behaviours and relied on community defence groups, such as the monyomiji (initiated youth). Occupying a key interface role negotiating between government and community, the monyomiji have been described “like the military of the village or “like the army in the society” (Saferworld 2020). With good organization and representation, the monyomiji were able to remain largely neutral during the national conflict (2013-2018, discussed below) – abstaining from collectively joining or supporting the opposition while maintaining clear lines of communication with the state (Saferworld 2020, p.4). The monyomiji’s centrality to security provision and decision-making imbues youth with significant power. Consequently, they are a source of both conflict and peace in the county. Attacks on UN and NGO staff in Torit town in April 2021 led some humanitarian organizations to temporarily relocate staff to safer areas and suspend activities (OCHA 2021). The tension was related to perceived grievances relating to employment practices, with demands from the monyomiji that organisations operating in Torit prioritise recruitment of youth from the area.

The outbreak of the national conflict in December 2013 and subsequent insecurity in Torit County led to widespread displacement, with significant increases in displacement trends observed in 2016 and again in 2017. These incidents were both a result of clashes among ethnic groups and (since 2016) clashes between government and opposition factions in the area. Those who were able fled from Torit town to other parts of the county, neighbouring counties, or across international borders. High poverty rates and insecurity along major roads prevented many IDPs from being able to flee out of the county. Insecurity within the county during the national conflict was characterised by invasive security measures, road ambushes, and looting (Multi-Sector Rapid Needs Assessment 2016).

Relatively peripheral areas to the north, east, and south of Torit County have been affected by localised conflicts in recent years.  Since 2019, groups of youths from the Loronyo area of northern Torit County have been embroiled in violence with their neighbours. This includes violence with parts of the Pari community from Pachidi Payam of Lafon County. In March 2019, at least 17 members of a Pari peace delegation were killed in Lohiri village of Loronyo Payam during a peace dialogue meeting, amid accusations of cattle theft by representatives from both communities (Radio Tamazuj 2019). Following the incident, members of the Pari community pursued a legal case against the Lohiri community over the killing. The Pari community appealed against a court ruling on the matter, which was still pending in the Appeal Court as of late 2023. Additionally, a group of youth from Loronyo reportedly killed three women from Idali (in Lafon County) who came to attend a funeral in Loronyo. Meanwhile, villagers from Lohila and Lomworo in Bur Payam were alleged to have been involved in violence over the destruction of the drums in December 2022, resulting in the killing of seven people (Radio Tamazuj 2022). To reduce violence between these groups, the Minister of National Security in the Office of the President initiated peace and reconciliation initiatives, which were organised in Khor Englis area. However, the long-term impact of these initiatives is yet to be observed. Since 2020, instances of low-level raiding (including theft of livestock) escalated into a series of attacks and reprisal attacks in Hiyala Payam to the east of the county.

Finally, the migration of cattle from Jonglei State to parts of Central and Eastern Equatoria states has also generated tension in Torit and some neighbouring counties, which in some cases has built upon existing disputes over land and representation (ICG 2021, p.4). At times, this has resulted in violence between pastoralists and farmers, including a series of serious incidents in early 2022 in the border area between Torit and Magwi counties (UNMISS 2022; Sudans Post 2022). These dynamics are discussed in further detail in the profile for Magwi County.

ADMINISTRATION & LOGISTICS

Payams listed in Government and UN documents: Torit (County Headquarters), Bur, Himodonge, Hiyala, Ifwotu, Imurok, Kudo
Additional payams listed by local actors: Nyong, Iyire

UN OCHA 2020 map of Torit County: https://reliefweb.int/map/south-sudan/south-sudan-torit-county-reference-map-march-2020

Roads:

• The primary road between Torit town and Juba (running west) and Torit town and to the Kenyan border (running east via Kapoeta) was deemed passable during both the rainy season of 2022 and dry season of 2023. A branch of this road runs south from Hiyala Payam to Ikotos town, and this was also listed as passable.
• A secondary road between Torit town and Magwi town (in Magwi County) to the south-west was also deemed passable during both the rainy season of 2022 and dry season of 2023.
• A secondary road between Torit town and Lafon town (in Lopa/Lafon County) was deemed “passable with difficulty” during both the rainy season of 2022 and dry season of 2023.
• A tertiary road runs south-west out of Torit town to Katiri village in the far south-east of Torit County. The condition of this road is unknown.

Heli and Fixed-Wing Airplane Airstrips: Torit

REFERENCES

Anonymous. (2002). Confidential Report on the Emergency Consultative Meeting for Equatoria – On the Impact Created by Particular Groups of Army Deserters in September, 2002. Retrieved via Sudan Open Archive 14 March 2024.

Catholic Radio Network. (2014). Residents desert Loronyo village over recent attacks on mourners. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

FAO/WFP. (2023). Special Report: FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to South Sudan. Retrieved 31 July 2023. See equivalent versions of the CFSAM report online for data from previous years.

FEWSNET. (2018). Livelihoods Zone Map and Descriptions for the Republic of South Sudan (Updated). Retrieved 10 July 2023.

ICG. (2021). South Sudan’s Other War: Resolving the Insurgency in Equatoria. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

Kurimoto, E. (2004). A Report of the Evaluation Survey on Peace-Building Programmes in the East Bank, Equatoria Region, South Sudan, Sponsored by Pax Christi Netherlands. Retrieved via Sudan Open Archive on 24 January 2024.

OCHA. (2021). Humanitarian Coordinator condemns attacks against humanitarian workers in Torit and Jamjang. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

PACT. (2003). Report on the Tore Peace and Reconciliation Conference, 7 April 2003. Retrieved via the Sudan Open Archive 1 February 2024.

PACT Sudan. (2006). Sudan Peace Fund (SPF): Final Report October 2022 – December 2005. USAID.

Radio Tamazuj. (2019). 20 killed in communal violence in Torit. Retrieved 24 August 2023.

Radio Tamazuj. (2022). 7 killed in intercommunal violence in Bur Payam, Torit County. Retrieved 24 August 2023.

REACH. (2020). Integrated Needs Tracking (INT) County Profile – Torit County. Retrieved 13 July 2023.

Saferworld. (2020). ‘Like the military of the village’: Security, justice and community defence groups in south-east South Sudan. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Simonse, S. 2000. Conflicts and Peace Initiative in East Bank Equatoria, South Sudan: 1992-1999 (draft). Pax Christi. Retrieved via Sudan Open Archive on 19 January 2024.

Sudans Post. (2022). Bor community exported war to Eastern Equatoria, Governor Lobong says. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

UNMISS. (2022). Escalating feuds between cattle keepers and farmers in Magwi lead to a volatile situation, UNMISS septs up engagement. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

Young, J. (2012). The Fate of Sudan: The Origins and Consequences of a Flawed Peace Process. London: Zed Books.

REPORTS on TORIT

Bayo, P. et al. (2017). Estimating the met need for emergency obstetric care (EmOC) services in the payams of Torit County, South Sudan: a facility-based, retrospective cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Deng, D. K. (2019). Housing, Land and Property Disputes in South Sudan: Findings from a survey Nimule, Torit, Wau and Yei. South Sudan Law Society. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Oosterom, M. (2017). Gendered (in)security in South Sudan: masculinities and hybrid governance in Imatong state. Peacebuilding, 5(2), pp.186–20. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Quist, A. and Sleibi, A. (2022). Human Security Survey 2022: Summary findings from Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. PAX. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Saferworld. (2020). ‘Like the military of the village’: Security, justice and community defence groups in south-east South Sudan. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Simonse, S. (1998). ‘Age, Conflict & Power in the Monyomiji Age Systems’ in Kurimoto, E. and Simonse, S. (eds.) Conflict, Age & Power in North East Africa: pp.51-78. Oxford: James Currey.

Simonse, S. (1992/2017). Kings of Disaster: Dualism, Centralism and the Scapegoat King in Southeastern Sudan. Kampala: Fountain Publishers.

World Bank. (2014). Market Assessment, Skills Gap and Youth Needs Assessment Study in Selected Payams of Juba and Torit Counties in South Sudan. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

* Note: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Population Estimation Survey (PES) was published in April 2023 based on data collected in May-June 2021. This uses a different method to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Population Working Group (PWG) figures produced based on a combination of 2008 census data and population movement data up to 2022. The large discrepancies are primarily attributable to these different methods rather than changes in the actual population numbers over time and have been disputed by some civil society and analysts. Although the later PWG figures were produced more recently for the HNO 2023, at the request of the Government of South Sudan the data and method used by the PES is being used as the basis for the Common Operational Dataset (COD) for the UN system for the HNO 2024 and likely beyond. For further detail on this and other sources used in the county profiles, see the accompanying Methodological Note.