By Bida Elly David
Lawmakers representing Central Equatoria State at the transitional national legislative assembly have criticized South Sudan’s leadership for not acting swiftly in the recent Mangala County incident.
The MPs insist that the onslaught by armed cattle herders was a criminal and inhuman act that deserves immediate action and not just verbal orders.
The lawmakers underscored that the tragedies carried by the armed cattle keepers against the citizens of Central Equatoria State was a clear indication of a lack of adherence to the rule of law as stipulated in the constitution.
“The herders have been committing criminal acts unabatedly and have killed, wounded and displaced many people in the state. They defied series of orders of return to their places of origin,” the MPs stated in their joint statement.
They (MPs) called on the authority not to compromise with the herders since they have turned deaf ears to their leaders following number of meetings.
The legislators promised to invest much effort to ensure that the displaced domiciles by the herders return back to their homes and settle with their families.
They called for immediate extension of humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced population in Mangala Payam and other affected counties within the State.
This concern came during a meeting between the governor of Central Equatoria State and Parliamentarians from the TNLA representing Central Equatoria State headed by Festo Lemi the head of SPLM parliamentary caucus.
The meeting was aimed at finding solutions to the deadly attacks that left the host communities in Mangala displaced.
On his part, Central Equatoria State Governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony appreciated the national legislators amid their courtesy call and promised to invest tougher measures on the cattle keepers to bring calm in the State.
For the last one week now, cattle herders have caused insecurity in Mangala, Gondokoro, Lokiliri Payam, Lobonok, and other parts of Central Equatoria State. Scores of the inhabitants in Mangala and Gondokoro are currently displaced as herders continue waging night attacks on them.
Last month, the governor of Central Equatoria State told the media that the State authority was going to impose forceful eviction of the stubborn herders who continued terrorizing the state in the name of grazing. But an action is yet to be seen from the state authority.