Information Minister Michael Makuei on Friday said President Salva Kiir Mayardit demands an explanation about the recent cattle rustling and violence in Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State and is set to summon Governor Louis Lobong Lojore and Commissioner David Otto.
A cattle raid in Mugali Payam in Magwi County in the wee hours of Wednesday morning left 23 people dead, scores injured and thousands of cattle rustled.
According to Makuei who was briefing the press after the regular Friday cabinet meeting, President Kiir said the situation required government intervention. He added that the president received a report detailing 23 people killed, including women and children, 3,450 head of cattle raided and 52 other animals shot dead.
“It is not acceptable to allow our South Sudanese citizens to kill themselves for no reason and start looting cattle,” he said. “After deliberations, His Excellency (Kiir) directed that the governor of Eastern Equatoria State and the commissioner of Magwi will be called so that they can actually give him the exact report of what happened and that he will also set up a fact-finding committee that will go to the site to find out exactly what happened.”
The minister said the cabinet condemned the hostilities.
“It is not through hostilities that we will be in a position to address issues and problems. This idea of cattle raiding should not be encouraged,” Minister Makuei said. “Law and order should be maintained and as such the cabinet seconded the sending or formation of an investigative committee that will go to the site to find out facts on the incident.”