South Sudan Braces for More Violence as Cattle Raid Leaves 31 Dead and Thousands Displaced

A devastating cattle raid in Eastern Equatoria State has left 31 people dead and thousands of cattle stolen, sparking concerns of further violence and calls for urgent action from the government and international community.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the raid and urged authorities to act swiftly to recover the stolen cattle and provide safety and security to the displaced community.

“This is an unacceptable act that must be strongly condemned,” Yakani said. “We urge the authorities to ensure the safety and security of the host community, which has been heavily displaced. We also call for an urgent meeting to discuss the protection of cattle herders from further armed raids and potential revenge attacks.”

Yakani warned that indicators suggest a deadly revenge attack may be imminent and appealed to the authorities to take preventive measures. He also called on the international community, particularly the United Nations, to scale up their capacity to provide safety and security to South Sudanese citizens.

“We need to see our government working together with development partners and UNMISS to provide safety and protection to our citizens who are at risk,” Yakani said. “The obstruction of the UNMISS mandate may contribute to a wider scale of putting our people at risk of life.”

The incident has also raised concerns about the spread of hate speech and propaganda, which have been blamed for inciting violence in the country. Yakani appealed to the international community to draw attention to the perpetrators of hate speech and misinformation.

As the situation continues to unfold, Yakani urged the authorities to take responsibility for finding a quick solution to the crisis. “This crisis can be managed if our political leaders demonstrate a political will to provide safety and protection to our citizens,” he said.

In a final appeal, Yakani called on President Salva Kiir to direct the authorities to work with UNMISS to scale up their capacity to provide safety and security to the citizens. He also urged the international community to put pressure on the South Sudanese government to take urgent action to prevent further violence.

The situation in Eastern Equatoria State will be closely monitored in the coming days as the government and international community work together to prevent further violence and provide support to the displaced communities.