Cattle keepers from the states neighboring Western Equatoria have been told to seek permission from chiefs before entry.

A meeting of local government officials, cattle keepers and farmers from Lakes and Western Equatoria states was held in Mundri County last week.

The conference agreed to move out all cattle from farming areas in Western Equatoria state.

Lakes state deputy governor Santo Domic Chol said the commissioners of the neighboring counties in the two states will coordinate movement of cattle in and out of Western Equatoria.

“The first thing is that all cattle in Western Equatoria areas should move out from there and return to their respective areas,” Mr Chol explained.

“If there are people who want to go to Western Equatoria as traders, they’re supposed to go there in an organized system like through the commissioner.

“The commissioner has to write a letter to the other commissioner, and the same thing, the governor also has to write a letter to the other governor. From there, the cattle will move in organized way.”

There have been cases of violence between the farming host community and pastoralists from the neighboring states.

The move is aimed at curbing clashes.

“This will help in stopping conflicts, because there are some criminals raiding cattle from Lakes state and other states, then they sale them as meat in a different state,” Mr Chol added.

Mr. Chol said President Salva Kiir commended the resolutions of the conference and urged the two states to cooperate with each other.

The Mundri peace conference was attended by the Western Equatoria state governor, Lakes state deputy governor, state advisors, commissioners, members of parliament, cattle keepers and farmers.