Twenty-six youths from Eastern Equatoria State who were detained in Ethiopia over cross-border cattle raids returned to Torit on Monday, pledging to renounce violence and act as peace ambassadors.
The group had been arrested in the Ethiopian town of Mizan after allegedly taking part in raids against the Surma community. They were handed over to South Sudanese authorities on Sunday and escorted to Torit by Eastern Equatoria State Coordinator Lodae Pasqal.
The youths said they regretted their actions and vowed to promote peaceful trade and cooperation along the border.
“We who suffered there now know that raiding is useless; peace is the option,” said team leader Abraham Lokuru, 40. “Our children who went to school are the ones who worked hard to bring us back home. We are now peace ambassadors, and we will tell the youth back home to stop cattle raiding.”
Pasqal said the youths, all from the Kauto administrative area in Kapoeta East, had been detained since November last year. He thanked Ethiopian authorities for their cooperation in facilitating the handover.
“We hope this bilateral relationship will continue to help curb criminal behaviour among the youth and ensure they do not pose a threat to Ethiopia’s national security,” he said.
Eastern Equatoria State Information Minister and government spokesperson Elia John Ahaji welcomed the group’s return and said the state would work to reintegrate them.
“Their families had lost hope, but today that hope is restored,” he said. “As a government, we will receive them and help reform them into productive citizens.”
Cross-border cattle raiding along the frontier between Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan and south-western Ethiopia is a long-standing issue fuelled by weak border control and competition over natural resources.