Cattle keepers and their herds began leaving the Mundri area following an order by Western Equatoria Governor Alfred Futuyo.
The cattle keepers have been ordered out by the state governor in a week’s time in order to bring peace to the area.
The order came after local farmers complained about cattle destroying their crops and property. Last Wednesday, the governor ordered cattle keepers from Jonglei state who graze their animals in Mundri to return home within seven days.
Many cattle keepers were seen leaving the greater Mundri area following the state government order.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday afternoon, Daniel Ariak, a youth leader of cattle keepers in Mundri, said the pastoralists are complying with the order. He pointed out that he is now leaving the per the order of the governor.
“So we don’t want problems. I am here going; we are going back to our village,” Daniel said.
Meanwhile, Governor Futuyo appreciated the cattle keepers for respecting his order. He urged those who are still in the area to leave and follow those who are heading to their places of origin.
“I am advising some individuals from Western Equatoria that you should work and let people see. For example, I went to the cattle camps and sat down with the cattle keepers and ate with them, which proved to them that we are not enemies,” he said.
“I have now pushed out cattle in my state, and in a day or few days, there will be no cattle in the state,” he added.
The communities of Western Equatoria State mainly depend on farming for their livelihood.