You may hear or read a claim by some Anuak saying that “???? ??? ??? ?????????, ???? ??? ????????”.
This is both wrong and absurd. I am going to refute this claim with historical evidence of Nuer existence in Ethiopia, centuries before refugee migration. ???? ?? ???? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??? ?? ????????? ????????????.
???, ??? ???????????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???????? ? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????. Nuer lived in Ethiopia years before no one could see refuge in Gambella itself.
Ethiopia first started hosting Sudanese refugees in Gambella in 1983, just 40 years ago, while Gambella town alone has 107 years history of establishment in 2023. Before a single Sudanese refugee entered Ethiopia, Thowath_Pal_Chay, from Nuer Majority, was a President (Chief) of Illubabor under Derge regime.
In the 1930s, 50 years before Gambella hosted Sudanese refugees, Koryum_Tut, a Gajaak Nuer, was appointed as a chief (Fitaurai) reigning from Kurthony, Lare.
Sir Chuol_Jock_Wie_Dup, proud Ethiopian Nuer, contributed to the defeat of Italians in the battle of Adwa, on Sunday, March 2, 1896. That is 87 years before refugees were to be hosted in Gambella.
Lueth_Met, and his brother Thon_Met, over 150 years ago, were a rulers over Makuey province of Gambella, Ethiopia, before word “refugee” was neither defined nor UN was founded.
Yes, in Gambella, we have Nuer refugees and Anuak refugees, but this doesn’t change the fact that there are Ethiopians Nuer and Ethiopians Anuak. In fact, many centuries, even before the Abyssinian Empire, Nuer of Ethiopia lived in Gambella; full article on this soon.
The claim by some Anuak brothers and sisters that Nuer are not Ethiopians but refugees is not only an incorrect assertion but a criminal offense.
This claim promotes a violence. Ethiopian Nuer are NOT leaving Gambella, now and forever. Rather, Gambella government and federal must enact a law to criminalize this illicit claim. I take this opportunity to ask anyone to only work for peace in the region. This tribal division and conflict between Nuer and Anyuak has no gain, it rather drags us backward.
