By Baraka John
Authorities in Maridi County have formed an investigative committee following the killing of a young boy in Mudubai Payam, an incident officials say may be linked to Ambororo nomads.
County Commissioner Daniel Sale Balas confirmed that the attack occurred on Sunday, about four miles from Maridi Central Payam. The victim’s age has not been released. According to preliminary reports, the boy was allegedly killed by individuals suspected to be members of the Ambororo pastoralist group.
Speaking to King Media on Tuesday, Balas said the county government convened an emergency security meeting after the incident and deployed a committee to Mudubai Payam, where the nomads are believed to be staying, to establish the facts surrounding the killing. He added that an eyewitness who escaped the scene is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
The commissioner also raised concerns about the continued movement of foreign pastoralists in the county. He called on the state-level Ambororo committee based in Yambio to clarify the legality of the group’s presence and assist county authorities in addressing the situation.
During the recent closing session of the Western Equatoria Transitional Legislative Assembly, Speaker Ann Tuna Richard urged the state cabinet to explain reports of an alleged agreement permitting the nomads to remain in Western Equatoria State without parliamentary approval. She described the matter as serious and called for an official government response. Efforts to reach the State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
In 2025, Jackson Baako-Charles, a member of parliament representing Ibba County in the national legislature, warned about the presence of reportedly armed Ambororo nomads in the region. He called on authorities to take swift action, citing security risks.
State officials have previously accused some local traders of engaging in barter trade with the pastoralists. In 2021, the state government issued an order banning residents from trading with foreign nomads and warned of legal consequences for violators. Despite this directive, enforcement was reportedly limited, and cattle trading continued in several areas.
Violence linked to suspected Ambororo groups has been reported in the past. In March 2023, an attack in the Berezigbo area of Bangasu Payam in Yambio County left four people dead, including a 65-year-old man.
The Ambororo nomads, also known locally as Seleka, are pastoralists believed to originate from Chad and the Central African Republic. They migrate seasonally into parts of Western Equatoria, including Maridi, Ibba, Yambio, Nzara, and Tombura counties. Their presence has frequently been linked to insecurity in the region, with reports of violent clashes and killings.