Magwi county residents flee amidst tensions with cattle herders 

TORIT – Tens of thousands of residents have fled their homes in Agoro Payam of Magwi County in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State fearing attacks from cattle herders from Jonglei State herders who are said to be advancing on the village and heavily armed.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Thursday, one local resident of Nyolo village in Agoro Payam who identified herself as Susan Aluhu, said she and many others fled their homes after herders drove their animals through their farms and destroyed crops.

Susan, who was speaking to this publication from Magwi, said the herders would beat anyone who complained when they graze their animals in the farm.

“It’s because of fear, we cannot now manage to stay in our residential areas as cattle are being reared in the residential areas spoiling our farms goods and you cannot talk once you talk you can be beaten. One of the kraal has already left but most of the others are still within some new ones are also incoming,” she said.

“I have come with my family because there is nowhere for me to go and do something, I have small children what can I do, I cannot get a relative here others relatives came with motorbike and pick them off,” she added.

According to local authorities, there are more than 10,000 cattle currently roaming parts of Magwi County. The arrival of cattle has sparked tensions with locals accusing the herders of grazing their animals on their farms.

Achiro Joska Nyolo, a women leader in Agoro, said families have been left hungry after fleeing their homes for fear of being harmed by herders.

The renewed tension comes days after authorities reported that the locals and the herders had agreed on compensation for those whose farms have been destroyed.

Benjamin Olum Pole Pole, the Commissioner of Magwi County, said negotiations are ongoing for return of the herders to Jonglei State. He said the herders have agreed to return peacefully.

“Apparently we are negotiating for their going back…they did not feeling ready (to go) because of children and women,” he said, stating that the herders have already started taking their children and women.

“They are saying no let us first take the children to Juba they cannot walk together with the cattle, they really came with a big population and also some animal got scattered so they are collecting they accepted to go back peacefully,” Pole-Pole said.