RUMBEK—Caretaker governor of South Sudan’s Lakes State Rin Tueny Mabor has warned that the state faces severe food shortages after failed rains wiped out crops.
Mabor said the recent prolonged dry spell has now left many communities very vulnerable, with little to harvest this year.
Speaking during the swearing-in of newly appointed caretaker government officials in Rumbek, the governor described the situation as a serious challenge linked to changing weather patterns.
“The rains that came in May and June this year were not enough for cultivation. So, there is nothing to be harvested this year, and this will contribute directly to hunger and food insecurity for all our citizens in Lakes State,” Mabor said.
Mabor is now urging residents to begin preparing for the anticipated hunger. He said rains received in May and June were insufficient for cultivation and that the delayed rainfall had disrupted the agricultural season.
He called on households to take steps to secure food while awaiting possible assistance from the government and humanitarian agencies.
“Our message to our people is to look for food for themselves as individuals, and as a head of family, you start with yourself,” he said, adding that government and partner support could take time to arrive.
The governor said the northern parts of Lakes State were experiencing severe shortages of water and pasture, a situation he attributed partly to overgrazing since last year.
“There is no water, and no pastures even this year,” he said, stating that cattle camps could move south in search of grazing land.
He identified Wulu and neighboring areas, including Mvolo and Terekeka counties and parts of Western Equatoria, as possible destinations for migrating herders.
However, the movement of cattle could trigger conflict with other communities. Mabor called for early communication with neighbouring communities to prevent tensions as herders move in search of water and pasture.
He said local authorities and communities should inform their neighbours of the conditions driving the migration and ensure that herders move peacefully.
“We also want, if there is cattle migration toward the south of Lakes State, especially Wulu or Mvolo or Terekeka Counties and Western Equatoria, then we must engage our neighbours to inform them that there is no water and no pastures and that we are coming peacefully,” Mabor said.
He added that community leaders should engage young people to prevent disputes over water and grazing areas.
Mabor also called for peaceful relations within Lakes State and with neighbouring states, urging communities to allow people to move in search of food and other essential resources.
The governor said residents should not face unnecessary restrictions when travelling to areas where they could find food, provided they maintained peaceful relations with host communities.
He stressed that preventing conflict would require collective responsibility from local authorities, community leaders, and young people, particularly as households confront the anticipated food shortages.
Meanwhile, Manyang Luk Lueth, caretaker minister of the Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency, said the newly appointed officials would work across government sectors to help the people of the state.
Many households in Lakes State depend on rain-fed farming and livestock for food and livelihoods.
The recent prolonged dry conditions and irregular rainfall experienced across the country have disrupted the agricultural season.