Authorities in Jur River County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, have impounded four cattle after they strayed onto a farm and destroyed a significant sorghum crop.
The county commissioner, Santino Manut Akec, confirmed that the animals entered a farm in Udici Payam on Friday and consumed or damaged crops.
Commissioner Akec told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the cattle were identified as having come from neighbouring Warrap State.
“Those cattle are currently detained in Udici,” he said. “In case someone from Warrap has lost their cattle, let them come to Udici and retrieve them.”
The commissioner emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and upholding the law, warning that his administration would not tolerate any violations.
He urged local residents to act non-violently and to report any stray cattle they find to the authorities, rather than taking matters into their own hands.
“Killing and stealing someone’s cattle is illegal and against the law,” Commissioner Akec stated. “Report the issues, and there is a committee that will resolve them for you.”
Recurring Problem
This incident is part of a broader, recurring issue in the region. The administrator of Udici Payam has previously highlighted that cattle often arrive before the harvest is complete, leading to what he described as “a huge loss for farmers.”
He also pointed to a lack of timely compensation for affected communities, which further complicates the problem.
These conflicts between migratory cattle herders and settled farmers have been a persistent challenge in South Sudan.
Past efforts to find a solution, such as the 2016 Marial Bai Agreement which aimed to regulate the movement of cattle, have seen limited success.