Authorities in South Sudan’s Wau and Gogrial States last week agreed on the return of stolen cattle to their owners.
Cattle raids have claimed several lives since South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Cattle are a main source of wealth for many communities.
The deputy governor of Wau State, Joseph Zachariah Garang told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that authorities from both states held a reconciliation meeting between Udici County of Wau state and Kuac South and Kuac North Counties of Gogrial state where they agreed to end violence and looting of cows.
He said the meeting, held on Friday last week, discussed communal problems affecting the two sides in a transparent manner.
Garang said it was also resolved that all animals looted from both sides be returned within a week from the day of the agreement.
"Authorities of Gogrial have promised to return 53 head of cows to their owners in Udici County of Wau state, while authorities of Kuac South and Kuac North Counties of Gogrial promised to return about 200 goats to their owners in Udici,” he stated.
Garang said plans are underway to hold a peace and reconciliation conference for Wau, Gogrial and Tonj states in the coming days and that a committee had already been formed to agree on the meeting date and venue.
Separately, the commissioner of Manaloor County in Tonj State, Bol Mongong said that they are in regular contact with authorities in Wau State over the conference to be held next week.