Governor of Central Equatoria State (CES) Clement Wani Konga warned in a speech on Tuesday that insecurity could provoke a response from Equatorians. He blamed pastoralists from neighboring areas for a number of recent violent incidents.

In an address to state members of parliament and cabinet, Konga said, “What is taking place in Western Equatoria now and in Central Equatoria, soon in Eastern Equatoria, is going to compel the people of Equatoria to take up arms… and I don’t want this.”

“You have grass and were asked to go back to where you came from be it Mundari or Dinka Bor,” Konga said, apparently referring to different pastoralist tribes including his own, the Mundari.

The governor recalled that in recent months the state has not been calm but has seen sporadic incidents of insecurity, for example at Tali Payam in Terekeka County on 22 December when 10 persons were murdered, and the incident of 18 January in Kworijik in Northern Bari Payam when Mundari pastoralists clashed with Bari community members, which led to the death of almost 12 people and the destruction of many huts and property, displacing hundreds.

Governor Konga also alleged that last Saturday, 14 March, in the area of Tokolo in Wonduruba Payam army forces attacked a Mundari cattle camp. He said that six people were killed including one Mundari, three from Dinka Bor and two from the army.

“I was informed this morning that the group of Dinka Bor cattle has crossed the road to Yei County, and I don’t know when they are going to get back to South Sudan either through Moroba or Kaya or Uganda, I don’t know. This is unfair,” he said.

Governor Konga said on 23 and 24 February a couple of cattle rustling incidents happened around Bungu, Degala and Wonduruba areas involving Mundari cattle camps and Dinka Bor pastoralists.

“All these incidences are uncalled for and therefore as the state governor we deeply regret and condemned in the strongest teams this heinous behavior,” he said.

“This is a question we are questioning, what has happened that the national army is accompanying tribal cattle raiders to raid a cattle camp? Is there preference by the national army for a specific group?” said Konga, overtly accusing army soldiers of having assisted the Dinka Bor raiders.

Photo: Governor Clement Wani Konga at the opening session of the state parliament, 17 March 2015

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