Kiir petitioned to order cattle keepers with ‘modern automatic weapons’ out of Magwi
A group of lawmakers representing Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State in the Reconstituted National Transitional Legislative Assembly has petitioned President Salva Kiir to order an influx of cattle keepers with sophisticated weapons out of the county.
Members of Parliament Betty Achan Ogwaro, Beatrice Aber Samson, and Okello Lawiri, said in the petition dated 12th February 2022, that cattle keepers mainly from Jonglei State are forcing returnees back to the camps as they burn villages, abduct children, and destroy crops.
“We are sure you [the president] are aware of the huge influx of heavily armed cattle herders with modern automatic weapons and their cattle to Magwi land. We believe they are from Bor in Jonglei State,” the petition partly reads.
“This uncalled-for influx of the cattle to Magwi County is depopulating the place further as the people are forced again to take refuge for their safety from the unruly, heavily armed cattle owners. Besides, the cattle owners are burning down villages, destroying crops and plantations too,” it continues.
The lawmakers say residents in villages forcefully occupied by the armed cattle keepers are living at the mercy of circumstances as threats, bullying, and intimidation reign supreme.
“Moreover, it is preventing and depriving the people of Agoro, Ayii, Moli, Owiny-ki-Bul, Kerepi, Opari, Pageri, Mogali and Aswa areas where the cattle are now occupying most areas, from their livelihood. The people are living in constant bullying, intimidation, harassment and basically at the mercy of the armed herders,” they said.
According to the lawmakers, the herders are undermining the local authorities and creating parallel local governance structures of their own.
On 12th February 2022, several heavily armed persons reportedly roamed the villages of Chomboro (Agoro), and Goloba (Panyikwara) intimidating the population about some stolen cattle that local residents have no idea about.
The action is described by the lawmakers as “a behaviour which is unbecoming and unbearable” as members of the community are forced to flee their residences for safety.
The legislators rubbished the excuse of floods as a primary reason for the forceful occupation of Magwi County by the cattle keepers.
“Using flood as a reason to relocate to other states is not acceptable. This is dry season thus the flood has subsided in all the flood-affected areas except isolated locations,” the lawmakers argue.
They added that “Magwi does not boarder Jonglei State, it is therefore not convincing that they did not take refuge with their neighbouring communities. If need be, they could have negotiated in advance with the community so that they are accommodated for a short period of time.”
In 2015 and 2017, Kiir issued a Presidential Order urging cattle keepers to vacate the Equatoria region and return to their origin. The lawmakers questioned the implementation and effectiveness of the two orders.
“It will become a song if we continue to recall your orders Nos 17/2015 dated 8th April 2015 and 25/2017 dated 28th Oct 2017, for the removal of, and return of the cattle belonging to other States to their areas of origin.
“However, these orders were from your highest esteem office and meant to be respected. It defeats our logic why the cattle owners have chosen not to respect and abide by your orders and yet continue to behave otherwise,” they said.
They appealed to President Kiir to intervene and devise amicable solutions to the crisis which is jeopardizing the safe return and settlement of returnees in the county.
“This lack of respect to the leadership of the country by the cattle owners is hindering the safe return of our people of Magwi County who are currently IDPS and/or refugees.
“As the President of the country, we seek your intervention to stop the devastations in our part of South Sudan and request that the orders you made be implemented according to your directives. We further call upon you to exercise your profound leadership to guide the country through peaceful governance,” they added.
On Monday this week, a group of armed cattle keepers stirred mayhem in Ayii Boma in Magwi County, forcing charcoal burners to flee their workplaces for safety.
Authorities in the boma also revealed to The City Review earlier that the group has established a secret training centre inaccessible to local authorities instilling fear and anxiety in residents.
