25 March 2014 - In renewed efforts to tackle inter-communal violence, UNMISS and the Eastern Equatoria State government met today with two rival communities in Budi County.

The meeting with the Didinga and Toposa communities in Budi, a county known for recurrent ethnic violence and cattle rustling, drew over 300 people.

State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore urged both sides to desist from actions causing tension and violence in the area. “You should respect each other, stop raiding each other’s cattle and live together peacefully.”

UNMISS State Coordinator Hiroko Mosko commended participants, especially women, for attending the meeting, stating it was a “show of commitment to peaceful co-existence”.

Toposa leader Morris Lomuyo asked his Didinga counterpart to return stolen cows so they could cultivate this season, a demand Governor Lojore urged the Didinga chief to look into.

Didinga Chief Jirvasio Amoure condemned cattle rustling in Maaji and surrounding bomas (town areas). He urged cattle thieves to stop, and warned that action would be taken against raiders.

The state government pledged to deploy more police personnel, in addition to six that were recently sent to the area.