Discattlement. Why not?

“Since disarmament has failed, I suggest we try discattlement” as a solution for conflicts in South Sudan, suggests Maketh A’ajak-malmal, in a poem posted in the emminently informative blog, PaanLuel Wel: Sudanese Bloggers.

Ramciel Cattle Camp

During my trip to South Sudan between August and September of 2012, my friend Vincent and I visited the proposed new capital of South Sudan, Ramciel. Our  new friends Manyiel and Michael and other residents of Ramciel showed Vincent and me around a local cattle camp in Ramciel. The cattle belonged to four different families. Several members of the family will stay at the cattle camp to take care of the cattle, living closely with them and maintaining them so that they can preserve the family’s wealth and eventually be used for dowry payments. Manyiel explained the importance of cattle as a resource in the local economy, their significance in Dinka culture, and even their role in South Sudan’s civil wars. He explained the varied uses of cow meat, dung, urine, blood, and hides. Michael told us more about the cows and then tried to teach us some of the dozens of names the cows are given. The names are based on the colors of the cows and each type has a different value based on its rarity.