The commissioner of Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria has said the rebel outfit, National Salvation Front (NAS), has no presence in the county and appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance for people displaced by recent clashes there.
Last Sunday, cattle raiders attacked kraals belonging to pastoralists in the county leading to the death of 20 people and displacement of thousands.
Commissioner David Otto Remson, while addressing a press conference in Torit on Tuesday, condemned what he termed an invasion by cattle keepers and castigated the Bor Community Youth Association for insinuating that NAS attacked the pastoralists.
“We, the citizens of Magwi County, with profound sadness and pain condemn the invasion of cattle and displacement of our community by the cattle herders,” Commissioner Otto said. “We condemn in strongest terms the allegation made by the chairman of Bor youth association that there is the presence of NAS rebels in Eastern Equatoria and particularly in Magwi county and that the NAS rebels are the ones fighting the IDPs in Agoro, Nyolo and Ayii. Equally, we dispute the allegation that there are IDPs in Agoro, Chomboro, and Omeo.”
“On the same note, we condemn the barbaric acts of the cattle herders of displacing, harassing, burning houses, shooting at people, and torturing the people of Magwi County. This is a violation of human rights. We call upon all humanitarian partners to urgently come to the aid of our displaced population in Magwi County estimated to be over 10,000 by providing food and non-food items,” he added.
The commissioner demanded the evacuation of the pastoralists from Magwi territory to encourage returnees to come back home.
“We strongly demand the removal of cattle and the so-called IDPs from Nimule, Melijo, in Magwi County to go back to their places of origin since there is peace. This is to allow our returning population to live in peace and carry out their normal livelihoods,” Otto said. “Their return will reduce conflict and misunderstanding between cattle herders and the landlords. We, the community of Magwi county, demand that the presidential decree for the removal of cattle from the Equatoria region be implemented and enforced to facilitate the return of our people from refugee camps.”
When asked about the identity of the cattle raiders who attacked the pastoralists and the number of casualties from both sides, Commissioner Otto said they were still gathering facts.
“As the chairperson of security in the county, this is exactly what I am trying to find out. These things happened inside the bush and we are still trying to find out exactly the number of the casualties and the number of the animals that they might have lost in the bush,” Otto said.
The commissioner however said the roads connecting Magwi to other neighboring areas were safe despite fear among the population caused by Sunday’s clashes.
Angela Achiro Onorio, the woman Member of Parliament representing Magwi County accused cattle herders of disrupting education in the area and wondered where the pastoralists and cattle raiders get heavy machine guns and military uniforms.
“The cattle herders have not only interrupted the livelihoods of the people of Magwi County but also interrupted the learning of our children,” Achiro said. “This is a violation of children’s rights to education and we are calling on the government to ensure protection to the population of Magwi County because right now they are living in fear. Their livelihoods, properties destroyed and gardens have been destroyed so we are calling all the humanitarian agencies to urgently provide assistance.”
Peter Otim Karlo, the Member of Parliament for constituency 27 in Magwi County, said most of the cattle keepers are army commanders which might require the president to evacuate them from the area.
“I do not know why they (pastoralists) are interested in Magwi County because there are other areas that they were supposed to go to but they all want to stay in Magwi County to disorganize the community,” Otim said. “We are farmers, pastoralists do not meet with farmers because we survive on agriculture and they survive on cattle, so these two cannot go together. The only thing which I can say is let them go back to their area of origin.”
He added: “If there is no decision taken on the presidential decree, our people will continue to suffer. The president is the only person who can move these people, not any other person.”