Hold out armed groups, herders scuttle farming in CES-Adil

Hold out armed groups and straying herders are to blame for the soaring insecurity that is stifling farming activities in Central Equatoria State, Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony has said.

In the past few weeks, the country was alarmed by roadside ambushes where travelers were attacked and vehicles burnt along the highways from Juba to other states, particularly Nimule Highway in Eastern Equatoria.

And, according to Adil, these attacks were perpetrated by armed holdout groups, cattle keepers and people driven by unrivalled desire to forcefully grab lands from rightful owners.

Speaking during the County Commissioners, County Executive Directors and Mayors Forum at Landmark Hotel in Juba last week, Adil said it was a collective responsibility of the county commissioners to ensure sustainable peace and stability at the local government level.

“All of us need to play a part in making sure there is peace in Central Equatoria State. We must ensure that these cattle go to their place of origin by all means,” Adil told Commissioners and County Directors at local government level.

“Make sure that those in Refugees camps are settled. You can involve the churches for conflict mitigation,” he added.

Measures in place

In March this year, Adil formed the state committee to supervise the return of cattle to their place of origin. However, farming communities in Central Equatoria State are still reporting destruction of crops by cattle at an immeasurable scale.   

Adil also tasked commissioners to ensure there was unhindered access to people in dire need of humanitarian assistance adding that local government at county, payam, and boma levels are the foundation of the state government.

“We have encouraged famers by providing tools and seeds. Each of us must have a program because in some counties no single development has been registered,” he said.

“We are the government working in harmony, we need to continue working in unity so that our people get what they need,” Adil added.

Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency, Moro Issac Jenesio said that services to the people at local level has been overlooked at the local government settings.

“The function of civil services and service delivery has been over-ridden by the political function. the focus shifted to the political mobilization of the local population to party linked –political setting rather than productivity,” said Issac.  

Meanwhile, Minister for Peacebuilding, Central Equatoria State, Gerald Francis Nyukuye, proposed policy development in the area of sustainable peace. He advised that Commissioners and County Executive Directors should work collectively to attain tangible results toward achieving lasting peace.