Cattle in Warrap State| courtesy

The Bahr el Ghazal region’s cattle movement conference in Wau has called for strict timelines for seasonal cattle migration into farming areas, a ban on firearms among herders, and the establishment of compensation mechanisms for crops and property damaged by cattle.

The three-day conference was held from December 18-20, 2024 brought together 180 participants, emphasising upholding the Marial-Bai Agreement and implementing measures to ensure harmony.

The participants also called for a review of previous agreements to ensure clarity and community adherence.

To achieve these goals, participants suggested reinforcing the Marial-Bai Agreement by immediately forming and deploying a Joint Integrated Police Force Special Unit to monitor cattle migration routes and prevent conflicts.

They also proposed strengthening the operations of the Joint Mobile Special Court to address pending cases related to cattle conflicts, promoting legal accountability and combating impunity.

Martin Magot, a representative of the Community for Empowerment Programme Organization (CEPO), delivered a communique at the end of the conference.

“Quickly form and deploy the Joint Integrated Police Force Special Unit along the roads of the seasonal movement of cattle to monitor the movement of cattle and to arrest any cattle-related conflicts that may arise due to violations of the Marial-Bai Agreement,” said Magot.

“To strengthen the operation of the Joint Mobile Special Court for the trial of some of the pending cases arising from the cattle-related issues between the communities which will contribute immensely to the fight against impunity and further recognition of legal accountability,” he said.

The Marial Bai Agreement is a peace agreement that regulates the seasonal movement of cattle between communities in the Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states of South Sudan. The agreement was first signed in 2016 and has been revised since then.