The governor of Eastern Equatoria State on Monday during a press conference said that the clashes that left an estimated 20 people dead in Magwi County on Sunday was occasioned by fighting between cattle raiders and pastoralists who recently moved into the county.
Governor Louis Lobong said his government has been keenly following the situation that unfortunately escalated.
“The government of Eastern Equatoria State has been following with deep concern the situation between the cattle keepers and the cattle raiders in Magwi County until the recent incident of 27 February where lives have been lost on both sides,” Governor Lobong said.
He revealed that following reports of a large influx of cattle in Magwi County, the state government on 16 February dispatched a fact-finding committee to the areas of Nyolo, Ayii, Moli, Kerepi, Pageri, Loa, Patimba and Opari to establish the situation on the ground.
“The committee had noted earlier that the presence of heavily armed men with their cattle in Magwi is already a source of insecurity. The committee found out that the situation on the ground needed urgent attention and I undertook a mission to the cattle camp in the area and found out that there was tension,” Lobong said. “We believe that if the situation is not urgently addressed, this may completely disrupt the farming activities this year. Furthermore, it has already discouraged the return process of our people from the refugee camps.”
He added: “As a matter of urgency, the government of Eastern Equatoria calls on the leaders of those communities who came with their cattle to Magwi to talk to their people to desist from acts of violence and to take their cattle back to avoid further conflict.”
The governor condemned the acts of violence, the destruction of farms, and the displacement of the native population.
“We call for respect for the host community, their homes, farms, and their culture. We also call upon the host community and the citizens of Eastern Equatoria not to use violence in addressing their grievances,” Governor Lobong appealed. “We are calling for dialogue between the host community and the cattle keepers. As they prepare modalities for short-term coexistence and immediate exit strategy, we call upon all the humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to the hundreds of displaced people in Magwi County.”
He also appealed to the national government to intervene in resolving the crisis.
Asked if there are IDP camps in Eastern Equatoria, Governor Lobong said there were none.
“We do not have an IDP camp or any kind of camps in Eastern Equatoria. What happened yesterday (27 February) was that cattle raiders attacked a cattle camp. It is not true that we have IDP camps and that is misinformation. We condemn the violence because the people who died on both sides are South Sudanese and the violence must stop. The people who died on both sides are about 20,” Lobong said.