Cattle raids affect relations between Unity and Lakes states – official

By Manyang Mayom

June 12, 2010 (RUMBEK) — The Commissioner of Rumbek’s North County of Lakes State, Isaac Mayek Noah, said that his county’s relationship with the neighboring state of Unity is deteriorating due to frequent cattle raids.

In the last three months, at least 19 people were killed and 26 others were seriously wounded by Unity State cattle looters.

Commissioner Noah told Sudan Tribune that over six thousand cows were looted in a 3 months period by cattle raiders from Unity State and not a single one was returned to its owners in Maper, Rumbek North by Unity state authorities.

He also added that he conducted voluntary mediation between Unity state and his county, but the Government of Unity State failed to respond positively on returning looted cows.

Commissioner Noah noted that since his appointment through a GOSS presidential decree on 7/12/2009 ,he has achieved disarmament in Rumbek North County and all arms collected from armed civilians were handed to SPLA barracks.

“I collected AK47s guns making the total 460,” said Commissioner Noah.

Noah accused Unity state of not being disarmed by the SPLA and his county is disarmed leaving the civilian without protection.

However, Noah appreciates his county’s relation with Warrap state saying that since we signed a peace document between Rumbek North (Maper) County and Tonj East County, there is no any report of cattle raids reported between Tonji East county of Warrap state and Rumbek North (Maper) county of Lakes state .

“We are in a peaceful atmosphere with Warrap state and our main threat is Unity state cattle raiders.” added Commissioner Noah.

Tonj East County of Warrap state and Rumbek North (Maper) County of Lakes state signed a cattle raiders peace document on March 23, 2010 in Wunlit under the mediation of PACT- Sudan organization.

Noah confirmed that over 619 were killed in last month.

(ST)