Makuei calls for evacuation of cattle from Greater Equatoria

The national Minister for Information, Michael Makuei Lueth, has called on the herders rearing cattle in the Central Equatoria State to leave immediately so as to avoid conflict with farmers.

Speaking during the first anniversary of late Gen. Eng. Elijah Alier Ayom, at Medan-Simba football ground, Makuei said the freedom of movement in the constitution should not be taken for granted and be used as a basis for unnecessary settlement.

“We are responsible for the confusion that is happening in cattle camps here. When we say that you should evacuate your cattle, people say okay. In the evening, the same people go and give different information to herders. I don’t want cattle around here, “Makuei said.

He stressed that freedom of movement was existent, but the fact remains that each community owns land in the country and should make use of their land instead of prompting chaos with other communities.

“If we say these cattle should be evacuated, we are asked why should we take them back, and the constitution says there is or citizens to live anywhere they feel comfortable in South Sudan.

“Do not be misled by such statements. It is said that you can live anywhere, but each person should live in their land,” Makuei added.

He warned that whoever delayed in evacuating cattle would face the consequences of them being evacuated by the army, which he said might result in some cattle being eaten or rather taken, and that no one would complain again later if they fail to comply now.

“I say that you should vacate these cattle camps and evacuate your cattle early because if the army comes to remove the cattle for you, we don’t need to hear complaints because the army might be taking some cattle and [will] eat some for their survival as they do the work of evacuation for you,” he warned.

“If you need your cattle to be eaten, you stay, and if you do not need any, you move beforehand. This is what I want to tell you. These youths in cattle camps (in the Equatoria region) are the ones to protect the land from external aggressors, “Makuei stressed.

There had been several clashes between pastoralists from Jonglei State and those rearing cattle in the Eastern and Central Equatoria States.

Taxing cattle                                                                   

Last week, the Central Equatoria State Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies, Moro Isaac Jenesio, said the cabinet was tasked by the state governor, Emmanuel Adil to draw up a plan to handle the issue of cattle in the state.

Jenesio said they were in the process of drafting a policy of taxing herders who keep cattle within the state, to generate revenue for the state.

He stated that they would organise grazing lands so that those who wanted to graze their cattle would pay some money before their cattle could be allowed to graze.

“The governor asked some of the ministers to come up with a plan to draft some state policies on how we can be able to minimise the rampant movement of cattle. And in the plan that we intend to come out with, it will involve taxing these herds of cattle,” said Jenesio.

“If you are capable of doing it then we will say okay, welcome to central Equatoria because we are also benefiting from you but that will not also be at the expense of the agrarian community.”

The state minister for local government handling of the challenge of cattle was a delay in the graduation of the police to maintain law and order in the state.

“You even read from the media that the governor led delegations to the cattle camps to move these cattle that is based on the order issued by the President, and of course, as we move them, we, first of all, try to talk to them to move alone and if they fail to do so, we will be forced to use the apparatus that we have to move them,” the minister stated.

“The challenge now is that the police force that we should have had as the state government to maintain law and order, is still under training under the unified force which calls for a voice. If the unification of the army is delayed, then the unification of the police should be done.”

He stated that when the resolution is passed concerning the order, they would be issuing permits for the willing communities to have access to Central Equatoria State, and they would be paying money to use grazing lands.