Tribalism Hurts South Sudanese People and Makes No Exception for Animal Killing

A video clip that went viral on social media showed some armed youth from Kajo-Keji county taking to the forest and shooting indiscriminately at cattle believed to belong to Bor community herders who have relocated to central and eastern Equatoria since 1991 due to rampant instability in the greater Jonglei, shockingly many, including Gen. South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) Chairman and Commander-in-Chief, Stephen Buay Rolnyang.

In a press statement issued by his office on January 25th, 2023, General Stephen remarked that the picture of those animals or cows being fired at amid the forest demonstrates the irreparable enmity and disintegration of the social fabric among the people of South Sudan.

“Killing innocent animals that have nothing to do with tribalism is a crime and is not a solution to all of the problems we face in the Republic of South Sudan because it was not their choice to find themselves in Equatoria; they were driven to Equatoria by herders seeking greener pastures and safety,” Gen. Stephen said.

It should not be forgotten that inter-communal fighting and confrontations have taken a heavy toll on the nation, resulting in deaths, lootings, livestock raidings, abductions, raping of women and girls, and cow slaughter.

According to the official, the main reasons for the violence in the Republic of South Sudan include the leadership battle among the SPLM elites, a lack of democracy, political enlightenment, and decent government, all of which contribute to and nurture tribalism and animosity among South Sudanese.

He adds that intellectual elites may be behind all of these tribal animosities; therefore, he advises politicians and elders of greater Equatoria to talk to the youth of greater Equatoria to refrain from such barbaric acts, asserting that people of South Sudan are free to live and settle anywhere of their choice within the Republic of South Sudan’s territory, regardless of ethnicity, provided they abide by local norms and values.

What is the answer to all of these atrocities? According to General Stephen, the only way out of this mess is to unite as one people and stage a general uprising against Salva Kiir’s administration, which is the source of people’s suffering, to install a new dispensation that will allow people to choose their good leaders and enlighten good governance.