Western Equatoria Governor Alfred Futuyo has ordered cattle keepers from Jonglei state who graze their animals in Mundri to return home.
This came after local farmers complained about cattle destroying their crops and property.
Speaking to farmers and pastoralists in the Kotobi area of Mundri West on Wednesday, the state governor ordered cattle keepers to move their cattle in a week’s time or risk being forced out by soldiers.
“There is no reason for the cattle to be here. If you want to stay with us the people, you are welcome but your cattle should be where you came from,” he said.
“If there is any cattle camp which does not want to leave, I will go there with forces, which will lead to cattle loss. This is a serious order. If you, the cattle keepers, take up guns against anyone, it will be between you and the government, not the local communities,” he warned.
Governor Futuyo urged the local communities not to take the law into their hands once there is a disagreement between cattle keepers and farmers.
Reacting to the order, Deng Mawut, who leads the Jonglei cattle keepers in the Mundri area, told Radio Tamazuj that they accepted the order issued by the governor for the cattle keepers to leave Mundri within a week.
“I welcome the order. I am going back to my village, and I will not come back because it is an order from the government and we will respect it,” Deng said.
Meanwhile, Kenned Kaunda, a local chief of Kotobi Payam, said he is happy with the state government’s decision because the cattle have destroyed their crops and bushes, which he said they depend on for livelihood.
“What the governor said is similar to our position as the local community. What we want is for the cattle to leave the area. We don’t want any cattle because this bush has many resources which will help us in the future,” Chief Kaunda said
The communities of Western Equatoria State mainly depend on farming for their livelihood.