Unity-Lakes: Payinjiar authorities hand cattle back to Yirol East

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

April 18, 2013 (PAYINJIAR) – Authorities from Payinjiar County in Unity state handed over 71 heads of cattle to, Mayang Luk, the commissioner Yirol East county of neighbouring Lakes state on Wednesday.

In February a group of cattle rustlers from Payinjiar raided 105 cows from neighboring Yirol East, according to local officials. The incident triggered an investigation that led to the apprehension of 14 cattle rustlers last month.

Officials from Unity, Lakes and Warrap have spoken out strongly against the practice, which has caused tension between communities along the border.

Payinjiar commissioner, Simon Chuol Biel, said his mandate is to to build strong relationships between his county and neighbouring groups.

“I’m today with my colleague Mayang to hand over to him 71 head of cattle that indicate the spirit of unity as one community and one government”, Biel said, adding that the remaining 34 cows would soon be collected and returned to their owners.

Cattle rustling can be prevented by through frequent communications between commissioners and by discouraging youth to pursue the practice, Biel said, warning that any future raids will be met with force from police and military.

Those who use violence will be met with violence, he said while addressing local chiefs, spiritual leaders and youth from Unity and Lakes states, during the handover of the stolen cows.

Yirol East county Commissioner Mayang Luk said that the return of the 71 heads of cattle will bring peace to the two neighbouring communities and expressed confidence that the Payinjiar commissioner would keep his word and recover the rest of the stolen cattle.

Luk said the meeting, which brought together many people from both communities, showed that the people of Payinjiar and Yirol East county were “now in peace and harmony”.

Insecurity through regular cattle raids has discouraged cross-border trade but the Yirol East county commissioner urged both communities to resume economic ties.

Trade between the two counties “can encourage peace and harmony between the neighboring counties or neighboring states” Luk told Sudan Tribune.

Cattle raids and retaliatory violence have claimed over 2,000 lives in South Sudan’s largest state, Jonglei, in recent years.

Michael Muot Diew, who represent Payinjiar at South Sudan’s national parliament, says the role played by two counties are a step forward to bring an end cattle rustling. However he warned that a lack of proper roads hampered trade, communications, and efforts to patrol the border.

The MP said he would raise the issue with his colleagues in Juba.

After the cattle were handed over, officials from both states proposed that schools be set to set up schools near the border so children from both states can study together in order to start good relations between the two communities from a young.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has proposed that a marketing centre is build between Payinjiar and Yirol East in order that the communities can easily meet and trade with each other. It is hoped that the market could create a strong relationships and and build harmony.

(ST)