By Correspondent

At a meeting chaired by the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore, which included representatives of the Jonglei pastoralists, and from the Acholi community, the pastoralists pledged to compensate the Acholi community, in Magwi, for the farms destroyed by their cattle.

The herders also called for negotiations with the Acholi community over the use of grassland and water sources, in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State.

Earlier this week, the Magwi community expressed concern over the entry of over 10,000 cattle from Jonglei in the area, destroying farms, and posing a threat to farmers in Agoro and Awer counties.

The herders said the lack of grazing land and water sources was pushing them to move to Magwi.

Among the key resolutions passed at the 8^th Governors’ Forum was that all cattle camps be relocated to their original areas.

 The head of the cattle herders’ representatives in Jonglei, Thon Aciek, asked the Eastern Equatoria State government to assess the destroyed farms so that the losses could be compensated.

He appealed to the government and people of Eastern Equatoria State to give them two more months to graze their animals and vowed to leave when the rainy season starts.

“I am from Dinka Bor, Kulyang Payam. The reason I came here is because there is no scarcity of grass,” he added. “For our cattle there, and if our cattle destroy some farms, we call on the leaders of Eastern Equatoria to tell us how much compensation is,” said the head of the Ayi community in Iwer area, Ogule William Oryem, who said the Acholi community would not accept compensation and called for the immediate exit of the herders.

Oryem said insecurity and threats to civilians have worsened in the area because the herders in Jonglei are heavily armed.

He said they would resist the proposal by the herders to stay in the area, and asked that they return to their lands to maintain peace in the area.

Acholi women’s leader Akec Marta, whose relatives were killed during clashes with Jonglei herders, said the community was apprehensive because the herders were coming armed with heavy weapons.

She said the Acholi community was not accepting compensation and negotiating over grazing areas and water sources for fear of damage and loss of life.

However, Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong said the state leadership agreed on the compensation after an apology from Jonglei herders, and tasked Magwi County Commissioner Benjamin Olum Bolbol with registering all destroyed farms, to obtain compensation while the government negotiates the exit of the cattle.