Vice-president Igga urges chiefs to reduce high bride prices to mitigate cattle raiding

JUBA – South Sudan’ Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. James Wani Igga, has urged the local chiefs in Jonglei and Pibor to reduce the high bridge prices in the country that he argues motivated youth to go for cattle raiding.

In his opening remarks during a two day peace conference between Jonglei and Pibor organized by the High Level Committee yesterday at Freedom Hall in Juba, Dr. Wani called for reduction of bridge wealth.

“High bridge prices should be reduced. It has been very high for no good reason. Do you want to sell your girl very expensive things like  a car? This is the reason why your daughter will be disrespected by  her husband, she will be beaten up for minor issues because the husband has paid a lot of bridge price after her. If there was no bridge price paid after her, she will be respected. The husband should pay for the bridge but it should be something affordable,” Igga said.

The top government official urged chiefs to dialogue among themselves on the reduction of the bridge wealth.

“All the chiefs of Jonglei and Pibor should sit down and agree to reduce this high bridge price with something affordable, If we continue paying high bridge prices, it will force the poor to go and raid cattle so that they can get married,” Igga said.

South Sudan’s customary law stipulates that a marriage is not considered legal unless a bridge price has been paid, usually in forms of cows.

Reech Malual, Juba-based activist said the government has a big role to play in reduction of bridge wealth.

“The reduction of bridge wealth should have been put in consideration, and what is needed is to enforce the existing number of bridge wealth that is normally given and recognized under the customary law of the Dinka in Jonglei  which is 30 cattle,” Malual said.