EES, GPAA join hands to end cattle raids, child abductions
The Toposa community of Eastern Equatoria State and the Jie, Kachipo, and Murle communities of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, have signed a treaty dubbed, “Boma Peace Dialogue,” to end cattle rustling and child abduction among the four communities.
According to the statement shared by the Eastern Equatoria Press, the Boma Peace Agreement was signed on Saturday to create a conducive environment for peace.
“The communities of Toposa, Jie Kachipo and Murle on Saturday signed an agreement, to live in peace, share resources and end cattle theft and child abduction. The dialogue came as cattle keepers from Toposa migrate to Mewun and other areas of Boma in search of water and grass for their livestock,” the statement read in part.
“The leaders of the four communities signed an agreement that officially sets the rules for the ongoing cattle migratory season that has recently been a source of tension.”
The agreement allows the Toposa pastoralists to cross to Boma during the dry season in search of pasture and water for their animals, and return at the onset of rains.
John Joseph Abula, the Deputy Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), mentioned cattle rustling and child abduction as potential threats and appealed to the local communities to desist from them.
The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore, stated that the peace agreement had set a pace that could prevent pastoralists from breaking the rules and committing heinous crimes.
“Among the decisions taken at the Boma meeting is the number of animals to be paid as blood compensation if someone is deliberately killed and how and when the compensation should happen,” the statement continued.
“The meeting also serves as a forum to engage local leadership in community-based dialogues to address development concerns in the area. The cattle keepers expressed a commitment to respect the terms of the agreement with the farming community of Kachipo. “
Resolutions
According to the Eastern Equatoria Press, the Boma Peace Dialogue resolved that if a person has stolen a cow, he should pay two cows and another cow as a fine and he should serve a jail term.
It recommends that anyone who has deliberately killed a person should be arrested and slain to curb such crimes. Any person who has committed manslaughter should pay 33 cows, and 3 other cows as a fine, and serve a jail term.
It also recommends that anyone who abducts a child be returned to the abducted child with 15 heads of cattle and serve a jail term. The person who buys the child shall pay 40 cows for encouraging child abduction.
A person who steals a goat must pay 10 goats, and two more goats as a fine for the crime. A rapist must be charged with 10 cows, and two more cows as a fine for raping a woman.
Any person who stops, harasses, intimidates, and loots vehicles on the road must pay 20 cows, for intending to kill many people and the owner of livestock that has destroyed a farm must pay 4 cows.
Peace mission
On February 6, 2022, Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore, and the Chief Administrator of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), Lokoli Amee, visited Jebel Boma County to revive the relationship between the Toposa and the Murle communities.
The decision came due to the movement of the Toposa pastoralists in search of pasture and water for their cattle towards Boma.
The two leaders joined hands to ensure that their communities reverted to their past fruitful relationship.
