Parliamentarian blames the recent clashes in Magwi on the failure of the executive body

By Adia Jildo

The first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Oyet Nathaniel, is blaming the recent clashes in Magwi on the failure of the executive body, stating that it has allowed the recent return of cattle to farmlands without taking action.

“This is entirely the responsibility of the executive, which failed to prevent or mitigate this crisis. Moreover, this is not the first time it has happened. It has been happening for years,” he added.

“We saw this coming. We, as parliament, are not the executive arm. This should have been intercepted by the executive arm,” he said.

When addressing the media in Juba, the first deputy speaker told journalists that the crisis could have been avoided if the orders had been executed, but they remain unimplemented.

“We have been seeing movements of cattle and we have also been seeing this coming, that cattle keepers and farmers will not mix in one place. Cattle are animals, that feed on grass, including crops. Crops are property.

 Knowing that if these cattle move and mix with the farmers, there is bound to be a crisis,” he added.

Unknown armed raiders attacked cattle camps in Magwi County last week, leaving over 30 dead and 40 injured in the incident.

“The cattle keepers are left stranded. There is a loss of lives and property. They have resorted to now taking revenge on the local population,” he said.

“It was the responsibility of the executive, the law enforcement agencies, to monitor movements of humans and animals and ensure that national security is not breached.

The parliament caucuses of the two communities are expected to meet soon to discuss their perspectives and find amicable solutions to the incident.

“They will engage with an open mind to find a solution to this matter. That is the crux of the matter. They must find a solution. The government must do its part. The national parliamentarians will do their part,” Oyet urged.

The parliament is also expected to summon two ministers, including the defense minister, the interior minister, the Inspector General of Police, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), to update the parliament about the security situation and the steps they are taking to contain it.

“We cannot sit and watch the chaos, crisis in our backyard involving loss of lives and property of our citizens. This is why we are consulting to bring the leaders from these communities together in one forum,” Oyet added.

Tensions in Magwi County have sparked fear among the residents, who fear retaliations after cattle raiders attacked a cattle camp in Nyolo, leaving over 30 dead and 40 injured.

According to Magwi County authorities, hundreds of people have been displaced, and property destroyed, leading to a humanitarian crisis.