Jonglei state pastoralists ordered to leave Equatoria after deadly clashes
January 13, 2016 (JUBA) – Dinka Bor cattle camps in Jubek state, former Central Equatoria, are ordered to leave for Jonglei state following deadly clashes that left at least five people dead and dozens more others wounded last week.
“We are going to start the return of cattle camps from Jubek state to Jonglei state immediately,” said Aguer, speaking to reporters after meeting governor Jadalla Wani on Tuesday.
“The committee monitoring this process will do so in accordance to the orders of the president of the republic that all cattle camps should leave Equatoria region and return to their home states,” Aguer said, referring to President Salva Kiir’s order of 2015 that pastoralists should leave Equatoria region.
Clashes erupted last week between cattle keepers from Dinka Bor ethnic group and farmers from Bari community in Lobonok payam, the constituency of vice president James Wani Igga, leaving five people, include a woman dead, according to state lawmaker, John Lodu Tombe. Thousands of people were also temporarily displaced.
Governor Jadalla Wani said the cause of the fighting is not known but police is investigating. He said separate committees comprised of Dinka Bor and Bari tribal elders have been formed to help restore order and facilitate the return of cattle to Bor county.
“The committee made up of people from Bor will meet the cattle keepers from Bor there and the committee from Bari will meet the youth in Lobonok so that there is no more fighting,” said Wani.
“We are doing this because we are implementing the peace agreement [signed by the government with SPLM in opposition]. If we want to implement the peace agreement, then we must ensure that all corners of the country live in peace,” he added.
Tension between farmers in former Central Equatoria state and cattle keepers from Jonglei state has been high over accusation of crops destruction by cows and cattle theft.
President Kiir ordered deportation of cattle camps from Equatoria region last year, starting his cow farms in Luri. But several herds of cattle declined to leave Equatoria, citing lack of security back in their respective states.
Governors Aguer and Wani said police and the army will be sent to cattle camps to help moving them safely to their villages in Bor.
However, a similar move in 2006 resulted into deadly clashes with the army which was escorting the cattle on one hand and civilians on the other.
Another conflict erupted between Bor Dinka and Mundari communities over cattle theft as animals were driven from Central Equatoria to Jonglei state in 2008.
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