US approves $54m aid to Juba's troubled state

Washington, through its Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed $54 million to set up modern agricultural projects aimed at improving food security and tackling cattle rustling in South Sudan’s Jonglei state.

The U N estimates that over 3,000 people have been killed and more than 300,000 others displaced in violence associated with militia fighting and cattle rustling in the country since January, with the highest percentage in Jonglei state.

More than 600 were killed in Pierri village in August when armed Murle youths staged a dawn cattle raid in Uror County.

The grant will be used for human resource development, improve access to the market, build roads and introduce new food technology in the region which is occupied by armed pastoralists.

The country’s USAID Mission Director, Kevin Mullally, said the project is aimed at improving the food security of nearly 150,000 households in the state by mid-2014.

“We will strengthen household and community resiliency to food insecurity by increasing crop and livestock productivity and by helping livestock owners to build their production capacity and business skills,” Mr Mullally said at the launch of the project in Bor, the Jonglei state capital.

Peace

The grant will also be used to set up modern crop and animal farms that will encourage the cattle rustlers to abandon raiding and embrace peace.

According to the state governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk, the funds will be used to purchase tractors, training tractor operators and viable seeds.

He said there would also be improvement of livestock production and provision of basic needs of the nomadic pastoralists.

“We want to make them stationary by availing water in their areas of settlement, they will be able have access to the market to sell milk and their animals. And the present cattle rustlers will find no reason to raid cattle because they are able to find food. I am optimistic that these cattle rustling will stop,” Mr Manyang said.

This is the largest project that focuses on combating insecurity posed by cattle rustling in the troubled state.

However, donors have been concerned about transparency and accountability issues in a country where the level of corruption is reportedly high.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday convicted the chairperson of a technical committee that drafted the National Anthem of graft.

Mr Samuel Mido was dragged to court after being accused of misuse of funds, operating an office without consulting his team and failing to organise meetings.
A UN -sponsored radio reported on Friday that Mido pleaded guilty to the charges.

Crisis management

Meanwhile, South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Friday ordered for the formation of a nine-member Ad hoc Crisis Management Committee for security, Political and Economic matters.
The committee will “monitor the security, political and economic development in the country and its implication” and “Identify challenges and provide advice for addressing them.”

As part of its terms of reference, the committee will also “provide briefing to the president on regular basis.”

It comprises of ministers from Cabinet Affairs , Defense, Foreign Affairs, Office of the President, , National Security, Interior, Investment, Commerce and Industry, Petroleum and Mining and the SPLA Chief of General Staff.