Old traditions face new hardships
In many South Sudanese communities, the exchange of cattle is an important display of respect to the family of a bride, said local resident Nyalada Mirame.
But the price of cattle has increased, due in part to the influx of returnees from Sudan; creating competition for brides and cattle. Additionally, 1,000 cattle that have recently died from disease, according to Unity State Ministry of Animal Resources, have further led to a scarcity of cattle.
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A dangerous source of wealth and prideResulting cattle rustling, said Mirame, is shameful, explaining that the dowry system was long in place without the crime being seen by residents today.
Yet the chairperson of the information committee, Simon Gatluak Pech Dak of Unity State legislative assembly, denied that high dowries were the cause of cattle raiding in South Sudan.
Most of the youths who are engaged in cattle rustling are (already) married to one, two or three wives,” Dak says.
He added that the dowry system is a strong traditional belief for many South Sudanese communities. Twenty-five cows are the maximum charge for paying the bride price in Nuer traditional customary laws,” says Dak. If one fell in love with someone’s daughter, he must comply with customary procedure.”
He conceded, however, that the dowry system is a cultural practice that needs to be changed through law enforcement”.
South Sudan’s residents have felt an economic crunch since the country shut down its oil production in January. Mirame believes the government of South Sudan should regulate the dowry system and adjust it according to economic trends. This being a time of austerity in South Sudan, with the shutting of the oil pipeline -- which accounted for 98% of the country’s economy in January -- residents say they have felt an economic crunch.
Cattle rustling has been central to much of South Sudan’s inter-ethnic conflict, which has displaced thousands. After more than two decades of civil war with Sudan, there is a proliferation of small arms in South Sudan, which has dramatically increased the bloodshed of these on-going conflicts.
Dak says cattle raiding is the failure of local government and suggested that the issue be addressed through an organised border peace conference between conflicting societies.
There is a need to design laws to punish those stealing cows, in order to stop cases of death within states and neighbouring communities in South Sudan,” says Dak.
