By Baraka John
The Speaker of the Western Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly (WES-TLA), Hon. Ann Tuna Richard, has called on the state cabinet to clarify a reported agreement between the Ambororo nomads and the State Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement, which allows the nomads to reside in the state.
Hon. Tuna raised the issue on Wednesday in her address at the closing of state parliament on a three-month recess, noting that the assembly had received a copy of the agreement, which she claimed was signed without legislative approval.
According to the Speaker, the deal permits the Ambororo to move with their cattle across Western Equatoria, a measure she described as both serious and unconstitutional.
“It has come to our notice as parliament that the government in the person of minister of local government signed agreement with Ambororo to stay here without the consent of the parliament” Tuna stated “This is very serious and the state government should address this”.
Hon. Tuna expressed concern over the increasing presence of the nomads in forested areas, saying it has caused fear among local communities who depend on farming, fishing, and honey harvesting. She accused the nomads of destroying beehives and restricting community access to forests.
“Because our people now cannot access the forest, because of the presence of Ambororo”. She noted, “They are killing people and also they have some medicine that they are using in the water where our people fish, also this medicine they use to kill bees and our people cannot harvest honey”.
In response, the Acting Governor and Minister of Roads and Bridges, Elias Box, assured lawmakers that the matter would be presented to the governor upon his return from Juba.
“All that you have presented, honorable speaker, I have noted, as you know, every well the Deputy Governor is not there, the Governor is not there, I am waiting to present to him”. Box assured, “As Executives, we have to look into certain issues which have been presented here”.
In late January, the national Minister of Youth and Sports, Mary Nawai, acknowledged the presence of the nomads in Madebe payam, Ibba County, during the funeral rite of the late paramount chief, Marona Saka. She urged local communities not to confront the nomads, describing them as well-armed and noting that the situation would be managed by the state government.
“We are discussing the Ambororo, and it’s well known that the Ibba community does not favor them,” Nawai emphasized. “However, no one should take up arms against the Ambororo, as they are better armed than we are.”
Ambororo nomads, also known as Seleka, are pastoralists from Chad and the Central African Republic who migrate annually into Western Equatoria. Their presence has frequently been linked to insecurity, including violent clashes and killings.
Local communities in counties such as Maridi, Ibba, and Tombura have sometimes formed defensive groups to protect themselves.