By Opio Jackson
The Kajo-Keji Youth Association (KKYA) has given non-native cattle keepers 30 days’ ultimatum to leave Kajo-Keji County in Central Equatoria State. This was disclosed in their petition letter delivered to Emmanuel Adil Anthony the governor of Central Equatoria State on 31st March 2021. “We demand that all non Kajo-Keji cattle keepers and their cattle must withdraw from Kajo-Keji within thirty days (30) from the date of this petition,” the statement read in part.
Last Month, armed cattle keepers were blamed for the killing of eight civilians in Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria State. In the same petition extended to No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, the Kajo-Keji Youth Association said the presence of armed pastoralists was threatening peace along the Juba Kajo-Keji roads and generally all over the Kajo – Keji County. South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit in 2015 issued an order for the evacuation of cattle in Equatoria Region but the cattle continued to flock into the Equatoria region.
The group demanded the return to the rightful owners the heads of cattle raided from the natives by the pastoralists, within thirty days (30) from the date of the petition. This comes following months of attacks by armed cattle keepers on the local people in Kajo-Keji County as well as the continuous road ambushes along Juba-Kajo-Keji road. The youth called on government to strengthen and monitor security along the Juba- Kajo-Keji road and inside Kajo-Keji.