In a follow-up letter dated July 22, 2026, the community said the proposal is intended to improve governance, strengthen security, and bring essential public services closer to the people after years of what it described as political and administrative marginalization.
"We write to reiterate our urgent demand for the establishment of a separate Administrative Area for Tonj. We firmly believe that restructuring our local governance will bring the state closer to the population, eliminate distance as a barrier to service delivery, and restore the rule of law," the letter states.
The community argues that Tonj has faced increasing challenges since 2005, when the state headquarters was relocated to Kuajok. According to the letter, the move has left residents with limited access to government institutions and essential services.
"Since the 2005 decision to relocate the state headquarters to Kuajok, the people of Tonj have been marginalized, cut off from vital state institutions, and denied essential services," the letter reads.
The letter further attributes the recurring insecurity in Tonj to weaknesses in governance, saying inadequate access to justice, poor infrastructure, and the absence of effective local administration have contributed to continued communal violence.
It states that the community has been left in what it describes as an "administrative vacuum," arguing that geographical isolation from Kuajok and weak government institutions have hindered service delivery and law enforcement.
The Tonj Community also criticizes the Warrap State Government, accusing it of failing to implement effective security measures, including delaying the planned disarmament exercise announced last year.
"The Governor has shown a total lack of political will, recently delaying the disarmament exercise... While the Governor plays this waiting game, lives are lost, properties are destroyed, and our children's education is dismantled," the letter says.
The community also questioned plans for what it described as a one-sided disarmament campaign, warning that such an approach could leave vulnerable communities exposed to attacks if not accompanied by broader security measures.
Reflecting on the political history of Warrap State, the letter says Tonj's decision to support the relocation of the state headquarters in 2005 was made in the spirit of unity and should not be interpreted as abandoning its political identity.
"When Tonj agreed to temporarily transfer the state headquarters in 2005, it was a gesture of goodwill—not a surrender of our autonomy or distinct political identity. This political union is no longer functional," the letter states.
The community further claims that the current administrative arrangement has become unsustainable, noting that economic hardship has forced many civil servants to leave their posts in Kuajok and return to Tonj to support their families through farming.
As a result, the Tonj leadership is requesting President Kiir to issue a presidential decree establishing Tonj Administrative Area as an immediate transitional measure while the implementation of the peace agreement continues, with the long-term goal of recognizing Tonj as a separate state.
"We urgently request Your Excellency to issue a presidential decree establishing an independent Administrative Area for Tonj as an immediate transitional measure... with the ultimate objective of confirming Tonj as a separate State," the letter concludes.
The proposal marks the latest effort by Tonj community leaders to seek greater administrative autonomy, arguing that decentralizing governance would improve security, strengthen public institutions, and accelerate development in the region.
Twic Media Reports has reached out to the Warrap State Government and the Office of the President for comment. No response had been received at the time of publication.
If approved, the creation of a Tonj Administrative Area would represent a significant administrative change in Warrap State and could reshape governance and service delivery in one of South Sudan's most populous regions.
