Pastoralists from Bor began repatriating their livestock from Magwi County to Jonglei State

Pastoralists from Bor began repatriating their livestock from Magwi County to Jonglei State on Monday, according to local officials in Eastern Equatoria State, after a two-day meeting between the host towns and the herders. The meeting was escorted by the country’s top security officials.

Security leaders from Juba, including National Security Director Gen. Akol Koor, Police Chief Gen. Majak Akech, and SSPDF Chief Gen. Santino Deng Wol, headed to Nimule on Sunday to mediate the crisis between pastoralists and herders.

The meeting was also attended by the Bor County commissioner, community leaders, and politicians representing Bor in the national parliament, while Governor Louis Lobong of Eastern Equatoria State led his delegation, which included several members of his state cabinet and the Magwi County commissioner.

An assault on a cattle camp of herders from Bor in Mugali Payam in Magwi County on Tuesday last week killed around 35 people, including children, women, and the elderly, wounded 19, and stole thousands of livestock.

According to Radio Tamazuj, livestock herders shot dead two police officers in Nimule town last Thursday, but according to information obtained by NCMP, what really occurred was that several enraged young lads in Nimule went on a rampage, hitting Ma’di motorists, and the police began to target them. Those youths then battled the cops, killing two of them. One of the boys was apprehended. He didn’t come from the livestock camp. The ensuing confusion and fear forced the temporary closing of the Nimule border.

Magwi County Commissioner David Otto Remson verified the repatriation of livestock to Jonglei State on Monday evening, saying the state administration and local community promised the pastoralists of safety on their return home.

“We all agreed that the cattle needed to leave the Magwi region as a next step.” “The Bor community also agreed that if the (cattle) is an issue for the people, it is critical that all cattle in Magwi be evacuated to Bor, and they immediately began (moving) yesterday (Sunday),” he added. “The cows are transported by trucks, and they requested whether the government could provide vehicles and other support.”

Commissioner Otto advised pastoralists who couldn’t afford to hire vehicles to start walking.

“We also decided that those who cannot afford to hire trucks should relocate on their own” (foot). They may begin traveling, and we have guaranteed them of their safety on the route,” he added. “The Magwi community should likewise be watchful, and no one should bother the herders on their journey to Bor.”

Abraham Makur, the secretary-general of the Jonglei cattle keepers in Magwi, stated that they have been evacuating livestock since March but have been repeatedly disrupted by cattle rustlers.

“We are repatriating our animals, and the government has noticed what is going on, and the cars taking cattle out of Nimule are moving on the road.” “This is what was agreed upon and resulted from today’s (Monday) meeting,” he said.

Makur, on the other hand, condemned the assaults on their camps and said that a citizen might dwell in any section of the nation.

“The Bor community thought they were South Sudanese and could live wherever, but this attack by the people of Eastern Equatoria has changed their minds,” he added.

“They (pastoralists) were horribly slain, and their animals were kidnapped.” Even though their people have been slaughtered, they have nothing to do since they are defenseless, and the only thing they can do is wait for those who are still alive to steal their animals.”

“Those who were slain perished in vain,” he said. Nobody will look after them.”

Makur said that the Bor pastoralists would have completed the repatriation of all their livestock from Magwi by the end of July. He did, however, say that renting trucks to carry the livestock was costly, and that some pastoralists could not afford it.

Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong, for his part, asked the host community not to allow livestock raiders to bother the herders, who were now preparing an evacuation plan.

He also said that individuals who claim that the villages in Eastern Equatoria dislike those from Bor are incorrect and should stop.

“Someone said that we don’t want people here. “Did you know that half of the Dinka Bor population lives in Eastern Equatoria, from Nadapal up to here (Nimule)?” Governor Lobong inquired.

“As a result, do not make such assertions. What I’m trying to say is that I need to learn how to communicate with different cultures. You cannot go and occupy a single location. This is not how a town should function. We have plots, and everyone chooses one, and your neighbor does not have to be from your tribe. That is what we want.”

According to him, the South Sudanese Constitution explicitly specifies that every person has the right to dwell anywhere he wishes, “but no tribe would migrate and stay there.”

“It (the constitution) stipulates that anybody, you as people, may opt to reside anywhere you choose with your family.”

Not because I battled here and had no choice but to remain,” Governor Lobong charged. “Such words irritate Equatorian and the people of Nimule.” This nation was freed via bloodshed. “Whose blood didn’t flow here?”