Kiir to form, dispatch fact-finding committee to resolve deadly fighting in Magwi

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit will send a fact-finding committee to Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria to collect information about deadly cattle raids, according to senior official.

On 11th May, more than 23 people including women and children were killed, and dozen other wounded during an attack on a cattle camp in Mugali Payam of Magwi County by unidentified gunmen.

About 3,450 heads of cattle were looted and 52 others were killed during deadly attack which displaced hundreds of people in the area.

On the same day, two policemen were shot dead while patrolling outside the town, forcing Ugandan authorities at Elegu to close Nimule-Elegu border point for hours.

Addressing the journalists after regular cabinet meeting on Friday, Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth said President Kiir has decided to form a committee to probe deadly fighting in Magwi County.

“He (President Kiir) would also set up a fact-finding committee that would go to the site to find out exactly what happened in that place,” Makuei told reporters on Friday in Juba.

Makuei said the cabinet discouraged cattle rustling and called on those involved to maintain law and order.

“The cabinet condemns all these hostilities in strongest possible terms because it is not through hostilities that you would be in position to solve issues or problems,” Makuei said.

Government spokesman said President Kiir has also summoned governor of Eastern Equatoria State and Commissioner of Magwi County to brief him on the cause of the conflict.

“His Excellency President directed that the governor of Eastern Equatoria and the commissioner of Magwi will be called by him so that they can actually give him the exact situation on the exact report of what happened,” senior government official said.

“It is not acceptable for us to continue or to allow our citizens of the country to continue to kill themselves for no reasons and start looting cattle.”