Heads of cattle being driven elsewhere in South Sudan

A joint committee formed between Jubek and Jonglei States says cattle keepers have started moving away from Lobonok area in Juba County.

At least five people were killed and another abducted when locals and the cattle keepers clashed in the area earlier this month.

The chairman of the committee, Professor Ajuoi Magot, says pastoralists who will refuse to return home will be forced, however, he says the movement is slow.

He spoke to Eye Radio after a visit to Lobonok, “So we have resolved the issue and the cattle are now on the move. They don’t move every day, you move and stop in the garden place, and then they move after two days, or three days, and in the end of the day they will reach to Jonglei.”

It is not clear how many cattle from Jonglei are in Jubek, but others say they are in thousands, including those fleeing insecurity.

Prof. Ajuoi says they held talks with both the cattle keepers and the local communities and both sides accepted that cattle should be taken back to Jonglei.

He said people displaced by the fighting have also started returning to their homes.