S. Sudan’s presidential cattle arrive in Bahr el Ghazal region

May 6, 2015 (JUBA) – About 3,000 heads of cattle belonging to the South Sudanese president Salva Kiir have arrived in Western Bahr el Ghazal state on Tuesday on their way to their last destination of Warrap state.

President Kiir last month issued a presidential order directing the evacuation of the cattle from Central Equatoria state after local farmers complained that the animals were destroying their crops.

The cattle were transported from Central Equatoria state to Bahr el Ghazal region, particularly to the president’s home state of Warrap using trucks guarded by heavy armed soldiers.

The presidential move to evacuate his cattle from Central Equatoria state, seat of his government, came a month after issuing a decree ordering cattle keepers to leave Central Equatoria state.

Agricultural farmers from the host state had been in a difficult situation with cattle keepers over land grazing.

Residents from Western Bahr el Ghazal state of Jur River county inhabited by Jur-chol community, claimed that the president’s cattle were denied right of settlement in Atur village of Wadho-Lelo payam after the state government failed to convince the local residents.

The local communities claimed hosting such a large number of cattle will be a threat to their crops.

(ST)