Community leaders call for peace between cattle herders and farmers at United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)-hosted grassroots engagement
Lainya County is rich and fertile, with a long history of successfully producing large quantities of corn, cassava and other basic foods.
Almost half of the families engage in farming, harvesting crops and raising livestock.
However, the community’s ability to carry out agricultural activities is subject to armed pastors who migrate cattle to the area in search of grazing land and fresh water.
Tensions to access these scarce resources are high, and conflicts between the two groups are rampant.
“Local residents are nervous about what might happen to them, their crops and animals,” said Thomas Ladu, a Kupera Payam resident and elder. “As we now say, armed herders are in my compound. They destroy everything I have, my cassava and other crops. They have collected crops from our farms without permission.”
“We tried to solve this problem many times, but the government failed to guide the cattle back to their area. As farmers, we were trapped and we had nowhere to go.”
The deadlock between herders and farmers led discussions involving grass-roots organizations held by the United Nations in South Sudan to help resolve tensions, promote reconciliation and peace-building.
Roosevelt Gbamie Cooper said: “Our mission is to share important information about the political landscape of South Sudan, including the role of the Islamic State, the extension of the government’s transition period and the key aspects of the revitalization of peace agreements, including transitional justice, constitutional reform and election planning,” said Roosevelt Gbamie Cooper.
More than 90 participants, including community leaders, youth, women’s representatives, elders and organized forces, conducted a constructive and open debate aimed at resolving disputes and found ways to promote development.
A key issue is the impact on conflict-displaced persons who are trying to return home.
“We have lived in houses on the grass since we returned home, but our houses and vegetable crops have been eaten by cattle,” said Taban Rufas, a recent returner. “We have a bad relationship with herders. They threaten us with guns and we live in fear. Because of this, many of us who are trying to resettle here are fleeing back to refugee camps in Uganda.”
Edward Taban, director of Kupera Payam, said the land was being illegally occupied by migrant herders in Jonglei State and nearby Terekeka County, who refused to move on.
“It is important that herders stay away from civilian villages so that agricultural activities are not affected and communities can feel safe and safe,” he said. “We hope that the arrival of the newly appointed county authorities will help peacefully resolve the challenges between farmers and herders.”
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of the United Nations Mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan.
