South Sudan has a turbulent recent history, and in many areas peace remains a fragile concept. Years of war have flooded the country with weapons. Combined with persistent poverty, this tempts many young men in rural areas to resort to violent cattle raiding against other communities. Cattle have enormous economic and socio-cultural value in South Sudan, and these cattle-raiding practices cause grievances and conflicts that linger for years, pit entire communities against one another, and result in many deaths, injuries and economic damage.
To achieve lasting peace, these men must be involved in local solutions. At present, local peace agreements are often not, or scarcely, observed by the young herders, and the tensions associated with cattle rustling jeopardise the implementation of the agreements.
We have travelled to remote areas to engage directly with the perpetrators. Due to their inaccessibility and reputation, these men are rarely involved in local peace dialogues. As a result, their perspectives and grievances are rarely heard, which stands in the way of resolving these conflicts. We want to change that.
Our new report shows that young men often feel pressured by their peers and by influential figures in the community to prove themselves and take part in raids. Their lives are often marked by deep poverty, and there is little trust in the government and police to resolve conflicts peacefully. In order to marry, they must give away large numbers of cows to the family of their intended bride. This combination leads many men to take part in cattle rustling, even if it means risking their own lives.
Nevertheless, they are keen to see an end to this violence: our interviewees spoke openly about the trauma they experience as a result of their own actions, the constant fear of retaliation they have to live with, and the wider, negative consequences for their community. A 26-year-old man from Unity State shared: ‘After a raid, you experience a range of emotions. There is pride, but also shame, especially when women and children have been victimised, and fear of injury or acts of revenge.’
We intend to use this research to better engage these groups in local peace dialogues and conferences, and to raise awareness of their wishes, needs and experiences. In doing so, we are also seeking to collaborate with organisations such as the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and local authorities.
