Undated photo of Ambororo pastoralists pictured crossing a river in Western Equatoria State. | File photo.

The Commissioner of Ibba County in Western Equatoria says a youth leader was killed and two others were injured during clashes between the local youth and Ambororo pastoralists.

Elisama Charles said fighting erupted Monday at a water point in Madebe Payam where the Ambororo pastoralists have camped with their cattle.

He identified the deceased youth leader of Nabanga Payam as Simon Pakasa.

The local youths were reportedly angered by the presence of the nomads, whose occupation of the stream blocked the community from water access.

They also said that the nomads have been destroying their farms and bee hives.

“These people are always sitting around the water source where there is water because they are water which is not getting dry even in the dry season,” Commissioner Charles narrated.

“Yesterday, they killed one person in Nabanga Payam, near the river in Ibba north going to Madebe Payam,” the official meaning the youth leader.

“The civilians are drinking the same water and the Ambororo want to drink the same water with their animals so that is where the problems start.”

Last week, the Commissioner of Ibba raised an alarm over the presence of Ambororo in the area saying it risked violence if not addressed.

A week prior to the incident, the Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State also warned the locals against trading with Ambororo.

Kennedy Gaaniko told locals to stop any business-related activities with the nomadic pastoralists.

During the same period, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Diocese of Ibba Wilson Kamani called on the government to provide security for the people of Ibba.

The pastoralists from the semi-arid Central Africa region, have been in Ibba County and other parts of Western Equatoria State since their arrival in 2010.

They are mainly residing in the bushes of Western Eqautoria State where they occasionally engage in conflict with locals complaining of the destruction of their vegetation and livelihoods.

In 2010 about 100,000 herds of Ambororo cattle were said to have been evacuated from Western Equatoria State but they later returned into the area.