The Eastern Equatoria State Parliamentary Caucus in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Thursday condemned the cattle raids and attacks and the displacement of civilians in Magwi County last week.
The lawmakers said the presence of the herders from Jonglei State, and the aftermath of last week’s cattle raid, led to the destruction of farmlands, looting of property, raping of women and girls, the burning of houses and the displacement of civilians in Aru, Amee, Obama, Nyolo, Ayii, Jok Okii, Chomboro, Lowoi, Agoro and Lofiriha in Magwi and Torit counties.
Addressing a press conference in Juba on Thursday, the Chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria Parliamentary Caucus Julius Ajeo Moilinga, said the attacks by the herders after the raid, resulted in the displacement of civilians with women and children bearing the brunt.
“The Dinka Bor cattle herders were attacked by unknown assailants, causing significant distress among the residents, leading to loss of lives and property and exacerbating tensions in an already volatile situation.
“These herders with sophisticated weapons like Doshkas, RPGs, AK-47s and other military hardware, typically intended for national defense, display all characteristics and behaviors of a well-trained paramilitary or a militia group with scorched earth strategic tendencies. They make us to conclude that this is a matter of grave concern,” Moilinga said.
The lawmaker said the invasion by the Dinka Bor herders and large-scale immigration to forcefully occupy another state is a significant escalation of conflict and so they send sympathies to the relatives and friends of those who lost their loved ones and properties.
He appealed to humanitarian agencies to urgently assist all the affected, especially the women, the disabled, the elderly and the children.
Moilinga called on the government to continue protecting property and defending the affected people, regardless of their ethnicity or state of origin. He also demanded that the National and the State governments urgently investigate the incident.
Magwi County lawmaker Betty Achan Ogwaro said civilians in three villages have been displaced and their houses and livelihoods destroyed.
“I can tell you the whole of Nyolo, Chomboro, and Agoro villages are displaced and their houses were burnt down. The people are scared because they are being told the Dinka Bor were coming to Torit to revenge,” she said
Ikwoto County representative Grace Abalang said at least 26 civilians from Eastern Equatoria State lost their lives during incident, while government infrastructure was destroyed.
“Twenty-six people died, 14 from Lofiriha alone. The Dinka Bor came and found those people dancing and they shot them, killing 26, let alone those who were yet to be accounted for,” Abalang said.
Representatives of the Dinka Bor herders could not immediately be reached to comment on the Eastern Equatoria State lawmakers’ statement.