Heads of cattle being driven elsewhere in South Sudan

More than 600 cattle keepers have returned home from Jubek over the past one week, Rehabilitation Commission in Jonglei State has confirmed.

They have been in Jubek with their cattle for more than two years, saying they fled insecurity.

Early this year, the governors of the two states agreed that the cattle keepers should return home, after a deadly clash with local farmers in Lobonok County.

Their return is also line with a previous presidential order for the cattle keepers in the Equatoria region to return to their home states.

The deputy director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, James Jok, says most of those who have arrived in Bor are the elderly, pregnant, lactating mothers.

Mr Jok says the youth have remained behind to escort the livestock.

“These groups are currently in Malual-agorbar and very soon they will be facilitated to their payams because Malaul-agorbar is not a resettlement area is only a transit reception center whereby we can receive and do some necessary arrangements,” he explained.

The movement of the cattle keepers is being supported by VISTAS, an organization supported by the USAID.

But the government provides protection on the way.

On Wednesday, Jubek State authorities said the youth had remained behind to walk with the cattle.