Displaced person camp under a tree in Lakamadi, Mundri East after attacks by suspected Tali herders on 26/12/203|Photo Courtesy

Hundreds of households have been displaced in Lakamadi Payam following attacks by cattle keepers from a neighboring County, according to the Commissioner of the Mundri East County of Western Equatoria State.

Margret Fozia said the first attack occurred on the 26^th of December during a wedding ceremony, while the second attack was on the following day at the Lakamadi police station.

According to Fozia, the attacks were triggered by the killing of a Tali herder in the area last week.

Due to fear of further attacks, dozens of households evacuated their homes and are sheltering in churches, and schools in the Lakamadi area.

Commission Fozia spoke to Eye Radio this morning from Lakamadi Payam where she relocated to ensure the safety of the displaced.

“People flee out of fear, the residents have become displaced from their houses to Churches and schools, even to the place where we are.

“They fear that the cattle keepers of Mundari may attack them because youth from cattle keepers came and carried out an attack at the police station in Lakamadi payam in Mundri East, and those who fled their homes are over 2,500 households.”

Commissioner Fozia is calling on the leaders and intellectuals who hail from the neighboring communities to convene a peace dialogue to end the violence.

“Whoever listening to me from Terekeka County, or both Mundri East and Terekeka County, let them come together and talk to themselves.

“The leaders of Tindilo,  Tali, Mijiki, and Bura should sit together with the people of Mundri East as one people. Let them come out from Juba and go and talk to the cattle keepers.

“This is the only way to help because the youth from cattle keepers don’t listen, so there is a need to talk to them and their leaders.”