Civil society leaders in Western Equatoria State have raised an alarm over the growing presence of armed Ambororo pastoralists in the region, describing it as a serious threat to local communities, livelihoods, and security.
Speaking to journalists in Yambio on Wednesday, Wanga Emmanuel, the chairperson of civil society in the state, said they had raised the matter with the state government several times.
“We have called on the state government several times through local and national media, including Radio Miraya. The presence of the Ambororo is not a minor issue; this is a new form of colonization, he stated. “We are now appealing directly to the President of South Sudan to intervene.”
He said the Ambororo, who have reportedly displaced communities in neighbouring Central African Republic, are now being left to roam freely in South Sudan.
“Living alongside fully armed groups is a threat to the safety of our people. The national leadership is treating the situation lightly, but this is a serious security concern,” he warned. “This foreign group is accessing our forest resources, harming citizens, and even causing deaths. People’s only survival strategy is farming, which is now under threat. Businesses are closing, and donors are withdrawing support.”
Wanga urged Governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa to act decisively.
“If the government does not act immediately, it will mark one of the first failures of this administration,” Wanga said. “We are placing our last hope in Governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa to remove these armed foreign nomads, especially with the rainy season beginning. As civil society, anyone supporting the Ambororo presence will be held accountable.
“If the government fails, chaos could erupt, similar to the situation in the Central African Republic,” he warned.
The concerns follow a recent killing in Maridi County, where a man, reportedly the brother of the chief of Modibai Payam, was allegedly killed by Ambororo pastoralists on Sunday, 15 February 2026. The 30-year-old man, who had a family relying on him, was reportedly killed while accessing honey in the forest.
Maridi County Commissioner Daniel Salah confirmed the incident, saying it prompted an emergency security meeting.
“We have formed a committee to visit the scene and surrounding areas to gather verified facts and submit a full report,” he stated. “An eyewitness is currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing.”
The killing comes amid long-standing tensions between farming communities and pastoralist groups, as seasonal cattle migrations have often led to disputes over farmland and crops.
Authorities say they are engaging youth leaders, community members, and cattle keepers to prevent retaliation and maintain peace.
The civil society leaders also reported that the heavily armed Ambororo herders operate in parts of Ibba, Yambio, Nzara, and Maridi counties, making communities fearful to access forests for fishing, honey, and other livelihoods, especially as the rainy season approaches.
Officials have called on the state government and humanitarian partners to support development, strengthen health services, and ensure the safety of communities in Western Equatoria. Police have not yet commented on the issue.