Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The leaders of the Bor community have called on pastoralists rearing cattle in Magwi County to return their animals to Jonglei State. The Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Michael Makuei Lueth, who is also the Chairperson of the Greater Bor Community, asked cattle keepers to return home to stop conflict with farmers.
“We appeal to the people of Eastern Equatoria to allow the herders to drive their animals peacefully, without any interruptions,” Makuei said.
The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore, directed the people of Eastern Equatoria State to support the herders by ensuring that they are protected with their cattle as they travel back to their state.
The Chairperson of Bor County Community in Juba, Dr Gordon Angok, noted that they were doing their best to convince the herders to return their cattle to the state.
“We are doing our best to ensure that these cattle keepers go back to Bor. If moving the cows back from Equatoria will bring peace to the region, then we are for that”, Dr. Angok noted.
The meeting resolved that cattle raids, retaliatory attacks and hate speech should be discouraged as the national government organises troops who would escort the herders to Jonglei State.
Call for evacuation
On Tuesday, Mr Makuei denied owning cattle in Equatoria region. He asked those who made the claims to ‘‘hand him animals associated with him so that he could give them for slaighter.’’
“People say these cattle belong to those of Makuei Lueth [sic]. If you think I have cattle there, [then] give Makuei the responsibility of it. I will allow the army to slaughter them. If you know that I don’t have cattle there, then evacuate the cattle there, “he said while addressing the gathering.
Makuei said that waiting for the onset of rain should not be used as an excuse to fuel conflict with farmers by not evacuating cattle, adding that there was plenty of water along the Nile for cattle.
“The pastoralists are here claiming that there is no way they can evacuate cattle now. We have sent the army, so [any] person who is refusing to leave will bear the consequences, “he added.
“The army has no problem with the person who has left early, but if you are the last person [then] you will feed the army. We have sent the army, and they do not have food with them. They will be eating the cattle of those who are not complying with our orders.”
Taxing herders
Makuei’s call comes a month after the Central Equatoria State Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency, Moro Isaac Jenesio, revealed that they had a plan to tax herders once it is approved by the governor.
“The governor asked some of the ministers to come up with a plan to draft some state policies on how we can be able to minimise the rampant movement of cattle. In the plan that we intend to come up with, it will involve taxing these herds of cattle,” said Jenesio.
“If you are capable of doing it then we will say okay, welcome to Central Equatoria because we are also benefiting from you, but that will not be at the expense of the agrarian community.”
The state’s information minister also said the state would also organise grazing lands, which would be paid for, as they issue permits for those who have paid taxes to live in their state.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
