Arop
By Emmanuel .M. Garjiek
Gen. Paul Nang, Chief of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), has ordered that all livestock herders from Jonglei State, who are now in Eastern Equatoria State, return to their home territory.
The decision comes after an attack on herders grazing their livestock in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, on January 31, which killed at least 41 persons and rustled an indeterminate number of animals.
The raid forced people in Ayii, Kit, and Agoro villages to flee after angry pastoralists threatened them, torched their homes, and damaged crops.
Army Spokesperson Maj. Gen Lul Ruai Koang told a news conference at the SSPDF Headquarters in Bilpam, Juba, that his commander had ordered that all livestock in Eastern Equatoria leave the region immediately.
“This document that I have here, and that is the report from the Chief of Defense Forces, says that the SSPDF leadership made a total order for the evacuation of cattle herders from Eastern Equatoria State to their places of origin in Jonglei,” he said. “We have the Brigade 2 and 3 of Division 7 that have been ordered to escort back the cattle herders to Jonglei. Let me hope this is going to be the last time for them to be escorted back and that they will never come back again.”
According to Gen. Ruai, the army has been transporting Jonglei pastoralists from Eastern Equatoria State, who invariably return, causing issues for farmers.
“We have been escorting them, in some situations, the vulnerable groups are even put on boats to take them back to Jonglei,” he stated. “So, sometimes it is good to appreciate, even the cattle herders know this.”
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