A/HRC/43/56 Turalei and four Bul Nuer from Mayom), 179 injuring of over 20,180 the looting of thousands of cattle181 and burning down of shelters.182 Due to the magnitude of the incident, the Governor of Twic described the attack as a “military level operation.” 183 Following the wave of deadly attacks, the Governor of Northern Liech State convened a conference attended by the governors of Twic and Gogrial and 60 other civil and military authorities in Mankien (Unity) from 7 to 9 May 2019 to address the cross-border violence.184 C. Jonglei 30. While deeply entrenched conflict between the Lou Nuer, Dinka and Murle pastoralist communities has historically played a defining role in the lives of civilians in Jonglei, this has been exacerbated by the national conflict. By the time the civil war spread to the region in December 2013, both the Government as well as the opposition capitalized on the ethnic divide and historical grievances, with several areas of the State changing hands over time.185 Since cattle has always been central to the livelihoods of the Lou Nuer, Dinka and Murle pastoralists who occupy the region, as well as to their social and cultural systems, the spread of arms and increased militarization, commercialization of cattle and rising dowry price have incentivized cattle raiding and child abduction rendering it even more deadly in recent times.186 31. In late November 2018, in the attempt to reconcile the divide between the Lou Nuer and Murle communities, a United Nations agency organized a peace delegation to travel to Lokomai in Liakangole to deliver food.187 Witnesses told the Commission that after the food was offloaded from the boats and partially distributed in Lokomai, members of the Murle community launched an attack on the delegation, killing at least eight individuals. 188 Before fleeing the scene, the attackers reportedly stole food items such as sorghum, flour, oil and beans.189 Relatives of the dead expressed concerns to the Commission regarding the killings as well as compensation for the loss of their loves ones. 190 32. Less than two months later, in January 2019, members of the Murle community attacked cattle keepers from the Lou Nuer community in Duchan and Kolabiel villages (Jonglei), killing at least 47 individuals, injuring 78 others and stealing an estimated 1,000 heads of cattle.191 As one witness recounted, “At the time the Murle attacked us, I was walking in the front line . . . They rushed at us in one large group from the right side, as if they were coming from Akobo East. We were taken by complete surprise . . .” 192 Though two of his family members were killed during the incident, the witness reported that no investigation had been opened. 33. In the absence of the rule of law and accountability, one woman told the Commission, “Given the insecurity in our area, we have started to send our children in the White Army to patrol the bush before we do anything . . . If the Murle loot our cattle, they quickly recover them. If they abduct our children, the White Army goes after them.” She added that women in the community support the White Army by rewarding them with food 179 ERN 103303 - 103309, para. 7; and Confidential meeting note. ERN 103303 - 10330, paras. 7 and 11. 181 ERN 103303 - 103309, para. 4. 182 ERN 103303 - 103309, para. 7 183 ERN 103303 - 103309, para. 5. 184 ERN 103303 - 103309, para. 4. 185 Drivers of conflict in Jonglei State, Judith McCallum and Alfred Okech, Humanitarian Practice Network, May 2013, available at https://odihpn.org/magazine/drivers-of-conflict-in-jonglei-state. 186 Ibid. 187 ERN 102889 - 102893, para. 7. 188 ERN 103234 - 103239, para. 12. 189 ERN 103234 - 103239, para. 12. 190 ERN 102889 - 102893. 191 ERN 103234 - 103239, para 13; ERN 103371 - 103376, para. 11; ERN 102913 - 102917, para 18; ERN 102918 - 102924, para. 18; ERN 103259 - 103263. 192 ERN 103259 - 103263, para. 7. 180 33