South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Governor of Central Equatoria State, Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, has called for unity between farmers and cattle keepers, asserting that they are partners in development rather than adversaries.
He emphasised that the government’s role is to establish systems that promote peaceful coexistence, ensure food security, and support sustainable livelihoods.
“Cattle keepers and farmers are not enemies; they are partners in development. Our duty is to create systems where both livelihoods coexist peacefully, where food security is guaranteed, and where no child grows up in fear of violence,” Emmanuel stated on Wednesday during the closing of a two-day conference on cattle migration between farmers and cattle herders.
“The time for implementation has come. With unity, discipline, and faith in our people, I am confident that Central Equatoria State will rise again as the breadbasket and heartbeat of peace in South Sudan,” added Emmanuel.
Bush Buse, the rapporteur of the two-day conference on cattle migration, reported that participants have resolved to end the conflict between cattle herders and farmers in Central Equatoria State.
Buse also revealed that the Central Equatoria State government and local authorities should enforce the 2017 presidential order for the return of all cattle not originally from the state to their respective states of origin.
“Both the state and local governments should develop and implement policies and regulations on cattle migration, including issuing permits, designating grazing corridors, and gazetting areas to regulate movement and reduce conflicts,” Buse stated.
“The Central Equatoria State government, through the Ministry of Local Government and law enforcement agencies, should strengthen the rule of law and security by empowering local courts and deploying security forces along with community police with a clear mandate,” he added.
Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, the Chairperson of Kajo-Keji Community, remarked that the two-day symposium will address issues affecting the relationship between farmers and cattle herders in Central Equatoria State.
“Resolutions are reached, but the underlying issues persist. The challenge is the recurrence of unresolved problems. The workshop aims to address the relationship between cattle herders and farmers,” said Sabuni.
Representatives of both farmers and cattle keepers praised the two-day conference, themed “Addressing Cattle Migration Challenges to Promote Peaceful Coexistence,” stating that it would provide solutions to the problems between cattle farmers and cattle herders.
The conference further resolved that the Central Equatoria State government, in partnership with peace-building and development partners, should prioritise the construction of water reservoirs in high-need areas such as Tindilo, Tali, and other parts of Central Equatoria State to address water scarcity and reduce conflicts over water and pasture.
Additionally, the conference called for the establishment of a competent high-level committee, including representatives of farmers, cattle keepers, intellectuals, and civil society organisations at the state level, to oversee the implementation of the resolutions from the farmer-cattle herders dialogue.
The two-day conference between cattle herders and farmers, spearheaded by the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), was held with support from the Central Equatoria State government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), among others.
The conference involved various stakeholders, including county, state, and national government officials, as well as religious, community, youth, and women leaders, traditional authorities, and representatives from both farming and cattle-keeping communities.
