An armed young cattle keepers walks among his cattle in South Sudan. Rustling is one of the causes of intercommunal conflict in the country | Credit | Courtesy
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Authorities in Awerial County, Lakes State have issued a strong warning to local youths against engaging in cattle theft, following renewed reports of the practice in the area.
“We have heard of cattle theft resumption as a government,
and we are preparing against it. We have already arrested some of them and we
are still following the rest,” said
“One challenge is that youth who have their own cattle
failed to look after their cattle, and this gives the opportunity to the
thieves to loot. This practice comes when different communities gathered.”
While he declined to disclose the number of suspects
arrested, the commissioner confirmed that operations are ongoing to curb the
resurgence, including arrests and cross-border migration restrictions.
The warning comes amid growing concerns from residents and
cattle keepers in parts of the county, who have reported a return of cattle
theft, a crime that had declined in recent years.
Since Governor Rin Tueny took office in 2021, Lakes State
had experienced a period of calm, bringing an end to internal cattle raiding
and theft. Many who had previously taken others’ livestock returned the animals
voluntarily, making the state peaceful.
However, despite efforts to maintain order, cases of cattle
raiding by individuals from the neighboring states persisted.
Recently, internal theft has reemerged, raising alarm
particularly in Awerial County, which has become a grazing hub due to its green
pastures. The area now attracts cattle keepers from Yirol East, Yirol West, and
Jonglei.