Last week, the leadership of the Bor community held a meeting with the governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis, Lobong Lojore, in which the former called on pastoralists rearing cattle in Magwi County to return to their place of origin in Jonglei State.

At the meeting, Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information, who is also the Chairperson of the Greater Bor Community, urged the herders to return home to stop conflict with farmers.

“We appeal to the people of Eastern Equatoria to allow the herders to drive their animals peacefully, without any interruptions,” Makuei said.

Governor Lobong also directed the people of Eastern Equatoria State to support the herders by ensuring a safe passway for them as they move back home.

This is not the first time Michael Makuei has called on the cattle keepers to return home.  Since the fighting broke out between the pastoralists and the farmers in Magwi County, Makuei has been calling on the herders to return home.

It is important to note that the several calls made by Mr Makuei have resulted in some significant improvements in terms of security in the area as well as the Juba-Nimule highway.

It is worth mentioning that relative peace has returned to the areas of Abara, Ayii, and some areas that had registered the influx of cattle keepers previously. Also, the effort of Michael Makuei as the Chairman of the Bor community, cannot go unnoticed. He has played a very significant role at the time when the state government seemed to have failed to provide a possible solution to the crisis, especially when it said the host community should decide whether the herders should leave Magwi or not.

So, at this point, Makuei has made a big contribution to the return of peace in the affected areas of Magwi County by convincing the cattle keepers to leave the area. He has shown an example of a good leader. A leader should be someone who can give the right direction to the people, not one who fuels conflict among communities. The country has been experiencing endless inter-communal fighting not because the youth are interested in it but because some of our leaders are not able to give the right direction to the youth. Most of them are troublemakers. They often add more fuel to the conflict instead of quenching it.    

Makuei deserves a big credit for restoring peace, especially in the villages along the Juba-Nimule Road. Although the area is not one hundred percent peaceful, a significant number of cattle keepers have already left the area and are heading back home to Jonglei State. 

We encourage leaders to always tell the truth and guide their communities in the right direction; this is the only way for citizens to live in peace.