MUNDRI - In Mundri West, the changing seasons bring cattle — and with them, both opportunity and uncertainty.
Each year, pastoralists migrate in search of water and grazing land. But as herds move across farmland and fishing areas, tensions rise with host communities. Competition over land and resources has too often turned into conflict.
For one community member, what began as a simple mission of peace ended in tragedy.
“I was on a mission to meet the cattle keepers to request their chiefs to come and meet the local authority. I wanted to take one of them with me,” explains Mundri resident, Tito Ker Manaya.
“Suddenly, I realized that I had been shot from behind. It has affected me very badly. My children cannot go to school and I cannot provide for their basic needs because I am now disabled and only able to move with crutches.”
Despite the challenges, local authorities are choosing dialogue over division with community leaders bringing together chiefs, elders, women, and youth to find practical solutions, from agreeing on migration routes to protecting farmland and fishing areas.
“Cattle keepers are disturbing our community; they are destroying farms. We cannot go out to do fishing or beekeeping without running into problems,” stressed Mundri West County Commissioner, Zilpha Dawa. “However, our approach is to talk through the challenges with them rather than taking other action.”
“We really want to involve our youth in this dialogue because they are the backbone of the country.”
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is supporting these local peace efforts. By facilitating dialogue and strengthening community structures, the mission is working alongside county authorities and traditional leaders to prevent violence before it erupts.
“We continue to engage the County authorities, including traditional leaders on how to make sure there is peaceful seasonal migration and peaceful coexistence between the pastoralists and the host community,” says UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer, Emmanuel Dukundane.
Through sustained dialogue, communities are identifying safe migration corridors, addressing grievances early and peacefully to protect livelihoods, and building a better future together.
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By Denis Louro
