Jackson Baako-Charles, member of parliament representing Ibba County, raised concerns about the presence of the armed Ambororo pastoralists in the area

By Emmanuel Mandella

A Member of Parliament representing Ibba County in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Hon. Jackson Baako-Charles, has raised concerns over the presence of the armed Ambororo nomads in Western Equatoria State, calling on the government to act swiftly.

Speaking during a media briefing last week, the MP, who was elected under the SPLM-IO ticket to represent the youth of Ibba County and Western Equatoria, described them as foreign nomads armed with guns, yet freely roaming South Sudanese forests without any restraint by the authorities.

“There are so many reasons for us to raise our voice, and we have been raising our voice and we shall continue to raise our voice about this Ambororo issue in our state,” Baako-Charles said.

“The issue of Ambororo is a little bit complicated in South Sudan because they are foreigners, nomadic, and with guns. They’re still roaming around our forests freely without being questioned. Why are they not being questioned by the authorities? That is a million-dollar question.”

He noted that the barter trading between the pastoralists, where they exchange their cattle for food items, has slowed down efforts to address the security threat posed.

“But the government had promised to settle the issue of Ambororo immeasurably, once and for all. If it was another foreigner roaming around our forests with guns, this issue would have been handled very seriously. So, we are watching closely and still hoping for action,” he added.

“Our people can no longer wait. We are appealing once again either the government acts now, or our future in food production and security in Western Equatoria will be at greater risk in some years to come” said the lawmaker.

Presence of the nomads has previously attracted questions from local leaders, who have questioned inaction by security forces to address the issue.

Last year, residents from Ibba County, Maridi County, and parts of Yambio, Nzara, and Nagero Counties reported widespread destruction of their farmland, incidents of violence, and deaths.

During a government rally in 2023, organized by then-Deputy Governor Dr. Kennedy Gaaniko Baime, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan Diocese in Ibba, Wilson Kamani, called for the immediate removal of the Ambororo to protect the state’s forests and natural resources.

“If we allow this to continue, we are leaving our young generation to face devastating hardships in the future” Bishop Kamani said at the time.

Also, former Ibba County Commissioner Elisama Charles also accused some traders from neighboring Yambio County of enabling the Ambororo presence by engaging in livestock trading activities with them, further complicating efforts to expel the group.

Some community members lament that during the dry season, it is virtually impossible to access their ancestral forests for hunting, farming, or clearing land for their children’s education. Many say they are harassed and chased away by the nomads.

Past clashes with the group have reportedly led to deaths in areas such as Ibba, Yambio, Nzara, and Nagero Counties.

As the rainy season begins, hopes are pinned on the government to act promptly to address the farmers-pastoralist conflicts for the mutual benefit of both groups.

“The issue of Ambororo is a little bit complicated in South Sudan because they are foreigners, nomadic, and with guns,” said Hon. Jackson Baako-Charles, MP repsenting youth from Ibba County.