Eastern Equatoria State government confirms clashes between cattle herders and raiders in Magwi County on 27th February 28, 2022.
Governor Louis Lobong Lojore told the press on Monday in Torit that the clash has led to loss of life from both sides, Radio Emmanuel reported.
He said the government with deep concern has been following the situation.
Lobong noted that there was a fact-finding committee sent early on the 16th of February to assess the situation between farmers and cattle keepers only to find out the presence of the heavily armed men which needed urgent attention.
“The government of Eastern Equatoria State have been following with deep concern the situation between the cattle keepers and raiders in Magwi County until the recent incident of the 27th February 2022 where lives have been lost on both sides. Following a report of a large influx of cattle into Magwi county the government of Eastern Equatoria state on the 16th February 2022 dispatched a fact-finding committee to the area of Ayii, Moli, Kerepi, Pageri, Loa, Patimba and Opari to establish the situation on the ground. The committee have noticed early on that the presence of heavily armed men with their cattle in Magwi is already a source of insecurity in Magwi. The committee found out that the situation at the ground needed an urgent attention”, the governor elaborated to the media.
The Governor noted that the presence of the cattle herders in the area is likely to discourage voluntary return of refugees from the camp back home.
“And on the same note I have taken a mission to the cattle camp in the area and found out that there was tension, 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 camp”, he lamented.
The governor is calling on the national government to intervene in the situation before these clashes escalate.