High-level stakeholders’ meeting pass resolutions to mitigate cattle movement

The meeting passed 15 resolutions aimed at addressing cattle movement across three states of Jonglei, Eastern and Central Equatoria including the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

By Lodu William

A high-level stakeholders meeting held in Juba on Thursday has resolved to implement the 2017 presidential order to move cattle from farmland in the Equatoria region.

The meeting passed 15 resolutions aimed at addressing cattle movement across three states of Jonglei, Eastern and Central Equatoria including the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

The significant resolutions aimed to find a lasting solution to cattle migration-related violence across the four regions.

The resolutions from the meeting included the implementation of presidential order of 2017 on the return of cattle to the areas of origin and resolutions 7 and 8 of the governor’s forum immediately by the Ministry of Defense, Interior and State government.

They also signed to refrain from hate speech, hostile propaganda, misinformation and generalization.

Commission investigation for accountability to compensate the lives, properties destroyed, recover the raided cattle and return them to the rightful owners, was among the resolutions agreed upon by the stakeholders.

They also called for the expedited unification of the forces and conduct comprehensive nationwide disbarment to prevent violence.

The First Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament, Oyet Nathaniel urged leaders to share the outcomes with their respective communities to ensure the adoption of all the fifteen resolutions.

“Actually, most of the resolutions in this document are to be implemented at the state level, while there are those that require the intervention of national government agencies,” he said.

“It is our responsibility as leaders of our respective states and administrative area, our constituencies and communities to translate and transmit these resolutions to our communities.”

Eastern Equatoria State Governor, Luis Lobong, who represented the governors emphasized on transforming the resolutions into concrete actions.

“We need to go and bring the real people in the problem. Here we have been quarreling amongst ourselves, but the real people are in their respective places enjoying what they have looted and celebrating while others are mourning and we are just victims of their own problems, so we need this facilitation to continue,” said Governor Lobong.

The Stakeholders called on the government, peace partners, and community leaders to implement the resolutions and restore peace, security, and stability, especially in Magwi County, where violence recently occurred.

Furthermore, a joint committee will be formed to implement the 2017 presidential order that mandated the evacuation of cattle from the Equatoria region back to Jonglei State.

Peter Wal Athou, Deputy Chairperson of the Bor Community highlighted the community’s commitment to complying with the president’s order, emphasizing the importance of logistical support to ensure the smooth transportation of cattle back to their rightful regions.

The meeting brought together national and state officials, including governors from three states, the Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, and representatives from faith-based organizations as well as civil society.

“Actually, most of the resolutions in this document are to be implemented at the state level, while there are those that require the intervention of national government agencies,” First Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament, Oyet Nathaniel.