South Sudan army hands over 200 raided cattle to Sudan

The South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) infantry division four has handed over 200 heads of cattle that were stolen from the Messiriya Arab tribe of neighboring Sudan.

Maj. Gen William Manyang Mayak, SSPDF infantry division four commander told Juba Echo that the heads of cattle were looted last week by youth from Parieng and Guot County.

“We have returned back the 200 raided Messiriya cattle to their owners to keep our borders in peace; we don’t want the two bordering normads to raid their cattle. If Messiriya normads raid cattle from the border, the Sudan army forces will also return back the cattle,” Mayak said on Tuesday.

 He added that they have imposed measures to mitigate cattle raiding across the common border with Sudan.

“Cattle raiding is unlawful and must be eliminated by action, this is one of the best solutions to return the raided cattle, and anyone caught should be punished by law,” Mayak said.

Messiriya Arab tribe and communities in South Sudan have been engaged in cattle raiding since independence of South Sudan in 2011.