Lakes state: Cattle raided from Rumbek market
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March 25, 2014 (RUMBEK) - Authorities in Rumbek Central county in
South Sudan's Lakes state have confirmed that unknown armed men raided
more than 60 cows from Malith marketplace in Rumbek market on Monday
night.
Mawet Manuer, Rumbek Central county's commissioner, said that no
people were killed or wounded during the raid. This is the first time
pastoralist youth have raided cows from Rumbek's main market since
since the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed. The deal led
to South Sudan's independence in 2011.
The raid of the main market in the state capital has raised concerns
among people in Rumbek, some of whom have questioned the government's
capacity to handle such security issues.
Activist Moses Maker told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that Lakes state is
becoming "lawlessness" and the government was committing injustices
against the people.
Some elders and chiefs have urged the South Sudan government to remove
the governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol, who was appointed to replaced
the elected governor over a year ago.
Governor Dhuol's harsh security measures have drawn sharp criticism
from many activists and young people in South Sudan's central state.
Young cattle herders "are killing themselves mercilessly" Maker said,
despite the Lakes state government deploying forces to track down the
cows.
Lakes state's police insist that young people and wider public refuse
to share information with them, often blaming the poor relationship
between the administration and the people of Lakes state.
Lakes state's authorities have become increasingly isolated since
caretaker military governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol took over last
year after his elected predecessor was removed by President Salva
Kiir.
Community and traditional leaders in Lakes' state's Rumbek North
county have launched a reconciliation process in a bid to ease
tensions between two clans who have been fighting each other over the
past week.
The team, which included national MPs, was lead by Daniel Deng Monyde
and elder Peter Muoranyar Biet. Sixty students from various
universities and primary schools both in Lakes state and from other
East African countries also attended.
On 10 March, fighting flared at the Yhaga cattle camp between members
of the Gaak and Manuer sub-clans of the Dinka ethnic group, reportedly
over a dispute about a girl.
Nine people were killed and another four suffered gunshot wounds.
Marik Nanga Marik, an MP in the Lakes state parliament, described the
incident as "regrettable", saying efforts were being made by
traditional leaders to calm tensions in the area.
Last week's clashes are believed to have been the first time youth
pastoralists from the Gaak and Manuer sub-clans had turned on each
other.
Traditional chiefs, students and activists have called on president
Salva Kiir to remove Dhuol, but the public demands have so far been
overlooked.
Under South Sudan's constitution, an election should be held within
three months in the event that the president removes a governor from
office.
However, in the three South Sudanese states where governors were
removed last year this has not happened and no elections are planned
ahead of the national poll in 2015.
(ST)
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