Cattle are the lifeblood of South Sudan. In the country’s more rural areas, cows in particular serve as ‘the family bank account’ and are used for everything from providing basic nutrition to paying dowries and providing compensation for committed crimes. They also serve as large-scale capital reserves for the country’s economic elite. Due to their importance, livestock are frequently the object of conflict.
South Sudan has a long history of cattle raiding, where violence is used to steal cattle, often leaving casualties and property destruction in its wake. While in part a traditional practice, the violence and harm associated with cattle raiding have escalated due to the wide availability of arms, which also raises the stakes for retaliatory raids and revenge killings. While its consequences are most visible at the individual and community levels, the practice also has a destabilizing impact nationally and undermines peacebuilding for peacekeeping efforts.
This research focuses on cattle raiding in the border area of Lakes and Unity States where raids have long contributed to, and are a part of, cross-border conflict.
