Army commanders ordered to oust cattle herders from Central Equatoria

JUBA, FEBRUARY 15^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The governor of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state Emmanuel Adil Anthony has directed the army to oust cattle herders from Jonglei State out of Central Equatoria state, according to a senior state government official.

Speaking to reporters in Yei town this afternoon, Moro Geneseo, the state minister of local government and law enforcement, said the army has been directed to remove cattle herders from the state to avoid further insecurity.

“We agreed that all the forces have to be moved to Lainya and some parts of Yei where issues of cattle keepers have been reported,” Genesio said.

“The forces accepted that the order of his excellency the president must be implemented immediately as they were. They have been instructed by the governor to Lainya to start moving out the cattle,” the senior government official added.

This comes after violence in Kajo-keji County of Central Equatoria state earlier this month resulted in the killing of at least 27 people.

Suspected rebels belonging to the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka attacked a cattle camp killing at least six people.

The cattle herders from Jonglei State responded, but by attacking civilians in a village in Lire Payam killing at least 21 people. The incident sparked public uproar and calls for the government to remove cattle herders from Central Equatoria floated on social media.