Author: 211 Check editorial team

Does South Sudan have 40 million herds of cattle? No.

211 Check investigations have discovered that South Sudan doesn’t have forty billion herds of cattle as stated by the youth minister. 

Speaking at an event to mark the International Youth Day at the Scenius Hub in Juba on Thursday, the Minister of Youth and Sports – Albino Bol claimed the country has forty million herds of cattle.

“We are only a population of 13 to 13 and half million people. Compare this to the number of animal resources, cows we have. We have forty million herds of cattle and these are the source of the problem instead of prosperity in South Sudan” said Bol at the occasion marked under the theme “Youth Innovation for a resilient South Sudan”.

But according to our findings, the above mentioned data is purely a false and misleading statement. 

In May this year, government’s Spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters after a council of ministers meeting that South Sudan has a total of 11.7 million cattle, 12.1 million sheep, 12.4 million goats and 5 million chickens.

Makuei said the statistics were provided by Onyoti Adigo, the Minister for animal resources and fisheries.

According to a Food and Agriculture Administration (FAO) report released on 28th August 2018, South Sudan’s livestock population is estimated at 12 million cattle, 20 million sheep and 25 million goats, making it a world leader in terms of animal wealth per capita as per the National Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Industry.

In July this 2021, South Sudan counted an estimated 12 million cattle, 12.1 million sheep and 12.4 million goats, making the country one of the world leaders in animal wealth per capita.

Conclusion:

Minister Albino Bol’s claim that South Sudan has forty million is false and misleading, because the nation has only eleven million and seven hundred thousand cattle, according to data released by the Ministry for animal resources and fisheries in May 2021. 

Beware of CLAIMS AND FALSE STATEMENTS made by politicians, for they can make you a victim or an agent of mis/disinformation.

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