By Bida Elly David
The driving force for Bor Internally Displaced People and cattle herders in Nimule, are demanding the national government to provide vehicles to transport their herds of cattle and their families to Jonglei State.
Cattle herders made the demand during a get-together between top Military leaders, herders and the host community in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State, which aimed at neutralizing stiffness at the localities.
Earlier this week, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State Louis Lobong Lojore issued a statement demanding cattle herders from Jonglei state to evacuate the land to pave ways for farming activities in the yielding parts of the State.
Speaking to the Military heads, Isaac Chol, the head of the herders jagged out trepidations (fears) for provision of vehicles and security accompaniment of their cattle back to Jonglei State.
He had appealed to the chief of Defence Forces, Gen Santino Deng Wol and the Inspector General for Police, Majak Akech Malok as well as the Director General for the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service, Gen. Akol Koor to fulfil the request.
“We are calling upon the national government to kindly provide us with vehicles for the transportation of our cattle to various destinations. We have been faced with a number of challenges that have been hindering the evacuation of our cattle back to Bor. I am appealing to the chief of Defence Forces, Gen Santino Deng Wol and the Inspector General of Police, Majak Akech Malok as well as the Director General for the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service, Gen. Akol Koor to put our request into kind consideration,” Isaac said.
Furthermore, Isaac reiterated that repatriation of their cattle to Jonglei had already begun and by July all cattle shall have reached to their places of origin.
Isaac echoed that the cattle that were referred for transportation reciprocation was generated from Madi land in exchange for marriage of their girls who were married off in Madi land.
“I would like to tell the Madi community that we found these cows here since we started our settlement and married wives who later gave birth to girls who also got married in exchange of these very cows as bride prices in Nimule,” Isaac reiterated.
He had promised the Madi community of evacuation of their cattle comprehensively by July.
“If you find a Dinka Bor having cattle, let us know. I have communicated to the Ministry of defence and our security organs who came from Juba to help us with vehicles for transporting the cattle,” Isaac said.
Isaac finally appreciated the host community for their friendly dialogue and promised to harmonize.