By Kei Emmanuel Duku
First Deputy Speaker of Transitional National Legislative Assembly has blamed the executive branch of the government for failing to contain the recent violence in Eastern Equatoria State.
The violence resulted in the deaths of more than 30 civilians, burning of houses, and displacement of residents in Nyolo, Ayii, Amei, and Aru Junction, last week.
Speaking to the media in his office on Monday, Rt. Hon. Nathaniel Oyet Peri, First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, stated that the executive, as the implementer of law and order, through the police and army failed to provide security for both farmers and pastoralists.
He added that the Magwi County situation should have been controlled, and armed pastoralists intercepted by the security organs, knowing that the cattle posed a threat to farmland and caused conflict.
“The security agencies should have monitored the movement of these pastoralists and ensured that national security was not breached. This is entirely the responsibility of the executive who failed to prevent or mitigate this crisis? Moreover, this is not the first time it has happened; it is a recurrent incident of cattle influx,” said Oyet.
The Deputy Speaker added that the presence of cattle in the county has already attracted raiders, some of whom are armed individuals targeting cattle camps and raided an unspecified number of cattle in the Magwi County incident, leaving the pastoralists stranded and resulting in revenge attacks where villages were burned and civilians displaced.
The lawmaker urged that it is important for the executive branch of the government to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating.
He stressed that the current situation in Magwi County has potential to disrupt trade along Juba-Nimule Highway and Juba-Torit Road.
He warned the public, particularly the youth from the affected communities, against revenge attacks and killings.
“This violence is threatening to spill out onto the highways, targeting members of communities from Magwi County and members of communities from Eastern Equatoria State who could be using the Juba-Nimule road or the highway. We have also noted an unfortunate escalation with movements of youth along these routes going to the crime areas, and there is an increased number of youth wielding weapons. As a result, this is aggravating the level of displacement of the civilian community in Magwi County. This act of mobilization must stop immediately,” noted the Deputy Speaker.
Oyet called on the National Minister of Interior and Defense and Veteran Affairs to deploy soldiers in Magwi County, particularly in the hotspot areas, to prevent the violence from escalating, arguing that it is the mandate of the police and army to ensure that law and order are maintained and security is kept throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Deng Dau Deng, Chairperson of the Greater Bor Parliamentary Caucus, who represent Twic East County at the National Assembly, called for calm between the two communities of Magwi County and the affected cattle herders from Jonglei State.
He said the attack happened at night and caught the cattle herders unaware, resulting in injuries to more than 42 pastoralists and the deaths of women and children.
“Those doing mobilization, stop it because there is no reason for this kind of mobilization to attack and to escalate the conflict further,” added Dau.
Meanwhile, a separate statement issued by Bor Community claimed that the attack had left 41 innocent people, including women and children, and 65 severely wounded.
It added that the attackers looted livestock, without specifying the number of cattle looted.
“We unequivocally condemn these heinous crimes in the strongest terms possible. The loss of innocent lives is a tragedy that should shake the conscience of every South Sudanese. We call upon the government of South Sudan to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into this horrific incident. Those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice so that such barbaric acts never occur again,” the statement read.
The community called for dialogue, understanding, and unity over hatred and destruction.