Jonglei Peace Conference Resolutions: Held in Bor, 1st – 5th May 2012
14 min readTHE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN
THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE FOR COMMUNITY PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND TOLERANCE IN JONGLEI STATE
JONGLEI STATE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE
FOR PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND TOLERANCE
held in Bor, 1st – 5th May 2012
http://www.southsudanhub.com/media/662/Jonglei_peace_deal/
CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PREAMBLE We, the eighty four (84) chiefs, elders, women and youth representing all eleven counties and all six communities of Jonglei State met in the Jonglei State Communities Conference in Bor from 1st – 5th May 2012. Prior to this members of the Presidential Committee held consultations and mini-conferences in the four former districts of Akobo, Bor, Fangak and Pibor. The Conference was also attended by His Excellency Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk; national and state ministers; members of the national and state legislative assemblies; chairpersons of national commissions; County Commissioners; religious leaders; intellectuals; UNMISS; international observers and experts; and was organised by the Presidential Committee for Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance in Jonglei State.
Taking note of the insecurity along our border with the Republic of Sudan, the Conference expresses its concern at the aggressive behaviour of the government of Sudan, continuing bombardment of innocent civilians, and its support for rebel militias in the Republic of South Sudan.
The Conference expressed its concern and alarm at the worsening conflict and insecurity amongst the communities in Jonglei State, and affirmed its desire and commitment for peace, reconciliation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The Conference appreciates the initiative of His Excellency the President of the Republic in setting up the Committee for Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance in Jonglei State.
The Conference welcomes the decision of the national government to disarm civilians throughout the country and particularly in Jonglei State, and pledges its support for comprehensive disarmament.
The Conference appreciates the positive role of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army for the increased security and protection and for its responsible conduct during the disarmament campaign.
The Conference appreciates the willingness of all the communities and their leaders to tell and hear the consequences of the conflict.
PROBLEM STATEMENT The Conference identified the following problems which need to be addressed to bring a sustainable peace:
- 1. Aggression by Republic of Sudan against Republic of South Sudan
This was identified as a major problem for peace, stability and development in South Sudan.
- 2. Insecurity caused by conflict between communities
Serious conflict has taken place between various communities, and has escalated recently. Of particular concern are attacks by criminals on other communities.
- 3. Killing of vulnerable persons (including children, women, elderly, disabled)
The scale of fighting has escalated, with the killing and mutilation of women, children, elderly and disabled. This is different to traditional conflicts.
- 4. Abduction of women and children, whether by violence, kidnapping or trafficking
Abduction of women and children is a major problem. In some cases they are kidnapped rather than abducted violently, and sometimes they are trafficked.
- 5. Theft of livestock
Theft and looting of livestock is a major source of conflict between communities.
- 6. Under-development
Lack of basic services, such as schools, medical facilities, roads, water points for humans and livestock, telecommunications, has been identified by all communities as a factor in causing conflict.
- 7. Unemployment
Alternative livelihoods for youth are needed so that they can be encouraged to refrain from cattle raiding and fighting.
- 8. Trauma
Individuals and communities have been traumatised by decades of civil war as well as the inter-communal conflicts.
- 9. Food insecurity
Food insecurity is both a cause and a result of the conflicts.
- 10. Internal displacement
Internal displacement is also both a cause and result of the conflicts.
- 11. Border disputes
There are a number of disputes between communities over borders and also water and grazing rights which contribute to conflict.
- 12. Government and administration issues
While not within the mandate of this Conference to address these issues directly, various issues relating to government and administration have been identified by the communities and are noted here for the responsible authorities to consider.
- 13. Other issues
Some issues have been identified which do not fit into any of the above categories.
RESOLUTIONS In order to address these problems, the Conference makes the following Resolutions:
A. Aggression by the Republic of Sudan against the Republic of South Sudan The Conference condemns the barbaric aggression against the Republic of South Sudan by the Republic of Sudan, supports the President, government and SPLA in resisting this aggression, and affirms that the people of Jonglei State stand ready to fulfil their patriotic duty in the defence of the nation.
B. Insecurity caused by conflict between communities a) Sensitisation to create awareness amongst the rural communities of Jonglei state. b) Combat woman and child abduction and trafficking. c) Promotion of intra/inter-community interactions, sports, workshops, conferences, marriage, follow-up teams, etc. d) Meetings between cattle camp youth. e) Murle to distance themselves from David Yau Yau rebel forces.
C. Killing of vulnerable persons (including women, children, elderly, disabled) a) Stop wanton killing. b) Waive compensation for those killed in the past. c) Compensation to be paid for those killed since the beginning of the current disarmament campaign, as a deterrent.
D. Abduction of women and children, whether by violence, kidnapping or trafficking a) Tracing and identification of abductees. b) Immediate return of abductees where possible. c) Regularisation of status by negotiation for those who cannot be returned. d) Registration of births, marriages and deaths.
E. Theft of livestock a) Community policing. b) Amnesty for livestock stolen in the past. c) Chiefs to control thieves, raiders and abductors. d) Bride price to be discussed in each community.
F. Trauma a) Sports activities. b) Social transformation of youth through moral and religious orientation. c) Encouraging forgiveness and reconciliation at every level, including political parties, civil society, faith communities, etc.
G. Border disputes a) Grazing and water rights need to be negotiated by joint committees of chiefs.
H. Other issues a) Lou Nuer to continue distancing themselves from the prophet. Other communities should deal appropriately with their kujurs. b) Enlightenment of the people so that they do not follow those (such as David Yau Yau) who rebel against the government.
RECOMMENDATIONS The Conference also makes the following Recommendations:
I. Insecurity caused by conflict between communities a) Enforcement of law and order. b) Effective buffer zones. c) Aerial surveillance. d) Roads and communications. e) Enact laws regulating the ownership of firearms and close illegal sources of firearms. f) Implementation of Bentiu Accord (armed chiefs’ guards). g) Recruit youth leaders into organised forces. h) Address the issue of criminals already in other communities’ territory. i) Alcohol production, sale and consumption must be regulated. j) SPLA should continue with comprehensive disarmament.
J. Killing of vulnerable persons (including women, children, elderly, disabled) a) Arrest and trial of culprits. b) Government to protect civilians. c) Government to address threats by armed insurgents.
K. Abduction of women and children, whether by violence, kidnapping or trafficking a) Enforcement of rule of law to prevent abduction and trafficking. b) Trial of culprits, including traffickers, and severe punishment.
L. Theft of livestock a) Creation of an anti-stock theft unit. b) Deployment of police. c) Regulation of movement of livestock at borders between payams, counties and states. d) Enhancing equipment of security forces. e) Aerial surveillance. f) Recovery and return of stolen livestock. g) Arrest and trial of culprits.
M. Under-development a) Equitable sharing of resources. b) Schools and health centres. c) Roads. d) Telecommunications. e) Strengthening local administration. f) Health centres. g) Water points for humans and animals.
N. Unemployment a) Create employment opportunities. b) Reformatory/rehabilitation schools. c) Absorb youth into organised forces (prisons, wildlife, etc). d) Equitable employment. e) Exploitation of natural resources. f) Farming. g) Income-generating activities. h) Vocational training
O. Trauma a) Individual and community counselling. b) Creation of conducive living conditions. c) Address special needs, including disability. d) Use of mass media.
P. Food insecurity a) Provide security so people can produce food. b) Veterinary drugs. c) Dissemination of weather early warning reports. d) Resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons. e) Road infrastructure. f) Food support to vulnerable groups. g) Provision of tools, improved seeds and agricultural training. h) Microfinance schemes. i) Cooperatives. j) Managing floods and other natural disasters.
R. Internal displacement a) Relief, resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs. b) Provision of security. c) Provision of orphanages.
S. Border disputes a) State to regulate and expedite border demarcation between payams, counties and states. b) Security to be provided to facilitate movement and trade across the international border with Ethiopia.
T. Government and administration issues a) Empowerment of traditional leadership. b) Government to treat all communities equally. c) Governor should visit all communities regularly. d) Creation of new counties and states to be discussed. e) Location of state capital to central area should be discussed. f) Location of some county HQs to be discussed. g) Provision of prisons in the counties. h) Provision of judges and public prosecutors; construction of courts in the counties. i) Upgrading of unqualified civil servants through capacity-building. j) Payment of salaries to chiefs.
U. Other issues a) Demining. b) Akobo River to be dredged. c) Land issues of the Anyuak community in Akobo. d) Monitoring Committee to follow up implementation of commitments and related issues. e) Government at national and state level to commit financial and material resources to implement the recommendations made in the Conference.
IMPLEMENTATION The Conference recognises that there have been many peace conferences in Jonglei State in the past and that many of their resolutions and recommendations are similar to the Resolutions and Recommendations of this Conference, but have not been implemented. We, the participants in this Conference, commit ourselves to implement the Resolutions of the Conference, and urge the appropriate authorities, the political leadership and the citizens to take seriously the Recommendations. The Conference has prepared a Plan of Action (attached as an appendix) which identifies who is responsible for implementing each of the Resolutions and Recommendations, and the time frame for implementation.
FOLLOW UP The Conference believes that peace is a process and that for the fruits of this conference to be fully enjoyed by the people of Jonglei State, there must be monitoring and follow-up implementation. Hence the Conference humbly requests His Excellency the President to consider how this follow-up can best be achieved.
CONCLUSION We, the participants in the Conference, representing the six communities of Jonglei State:
- Commit ourselves to peace, reconciliation and tolerance amongst our communities.
- Commit ourselves to these Resolutions.
- Appeal to our national and state governments to assist and to ensure that they are implemented.
PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE FOR COMMUNITY PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND TOLERANCE IN JONGLEI STATE
All-Jonglei Communities Conference
Bor, Jonglei State
1st – 5th May 2012
PLAN OF ACTION
| ISSUE | RECOMMENDATIONS | LOCATION | TIME FRAME | WHO IS RESPONSIBLE | REMARKS | |
| 1 | Underdevelopment | a) Equitable sharing of resourcesb) Schoolsc) Roads [trunk and feeder roads]
d) Telecommunications e) Strengthening local administration f) Health centres g) Water points for humans and animals |
General/ All 11 counties | Budget year 2012/2013 | [c] Government at both national and state level [Ministry of Physical Infrastructure][e] National and state government[f] National and state government, NGOS and UN agencies
[g]NGOS, investors, state governmen [d] National Government and investors |
[c] Examples: Bor-Ayod-Fangak and PigiVocational centres in each county[e] strengthening of traditional authority;
Mobility in payams and bomas [g] Haffirs at buffer zones |
| 2 | Unemployment | a) Create employment opportunitiesb) Reformatory schoolc) Organised forces
d) Equitable employment e) Exploitation of natural resources f) Farming g) Income-generating projects |
General/ All counties[b] state headquarters | Budget year 2012/2013[c] By August 2012[f]immediate | A] National and state government, NGOs[b] state government[c] national and state governments
[d] national and state governments and NGOS [e] national and state governments, investors, private sector, communities [f] individual farmers, investors and communities |
[f]Agricultural research[f] government to set aside Friday and Saturday as farming days[c] youth leaders of all communities be incorporated into the armed and police forces |
| 3 | Trauma | a) Individual and community counsellingb) Creation of conducive living conditionsc) Sports
d) Social transformation of youth through moral and religious orientation e) Address special needs, including disability f) Encouraging forgiveness and reconciliation at every level, including political parties, civil society, faith communities, etc g) Use of mass media |
General | Immediate and henceforth | Government at both state and national:youth and sports;information and communication;
social development; |
|
| 4 | Abduction of women and children, whether by violence or by theft | a) Enforcement of rule of law to prevent abductionb) Tracing and identification of abducteesc) Trial of culprits, including sellers and buyers, and severe punishment
d) Immediate return of abductees where possible e) Regularisation of status by negotiation for those who cannot be returned f) Registration of births and marriages |
All areas except Greater Pangak | [b] On-going[d] Immediate e.g. 3 monthsimmediate and henceforth | [a, b, d) Local authorities, traditional chiefs, youth leaders, policearmy, youth leaders and chiefs[c] Both state and national:
Law enforcement; Defence; Justice; [e] Tradtional chiefs; [f] Social Welfare [registration]; County chiefs [marriages] |
[d] otherwise 5 cows must be paid to the army for food/life sentense with hard labour |
| 5 | Theft of livestock | a) Anti-stock theft unitb) Deployment of policec) Regulation of movement of livestock at borders between payams, counties and states
d) Enhancing equipment of security forces e) Aerial surveillance f) Recovery and return of stolen livestock g) Arrest and trial of culprits h) Community policing i) Amnesty for cattle stolen in the past j) Chiefs to control thieves h) Bride price to be discussed in each community |
a-j) Generalh) Each community | Immediate and henceforth | [a, b) Police[c] local administration [CA][d] state and national government
[e] national government [f] local authorities [CA] [g] police and criminal courts [I] conferences j) Chiefs and communities h) Communities |
Continuous |
| 6 | Killing of vulnerable persons (children, women, elderly and persons with disability) and others | a) Stop wanton killingb) Arrest and trial of culpritsc) Government to protect civilians
d) Disarmament must continue e) Government should address threats by armed insurgents f) Amnesty for those killed in the past g) Compensation for those killed after disarmament, as a deterrent |
General | Immediate | [a] police[b] police and courts[c] government: national and state
[d] army and organised forces [e] national and state governments [f] communities [g] culprits |
Continuous |
| 7 | Insecurity caused by the [Murle] Criminals | a) Sensitisation to create awareness amongst Murleb) Enforcement of law and orderc) Combat woman and child trafficking
d) Effective buffer zones e) Aerial surveillance f) Roads and communications g) Closure of illegal sources of firearms h) Community policing i) Implementation of Bentiu Accord (armed guards to chiefs) j) Recruit youth leaders into organised forces and other civil service institutions k) Promotion of intra/inter-community interactions, sports, workshops, conferences, marriage, follow-up teams, etc l) Meetings between cattle camp youth m) Address the issue of Murle criminals already in other communities’ territory n) Alcohol production, sale and consumption must be regulated |
[a]All except Greater Fangak[b, c, d, e,f, g, h, I, j, k, l, m, n] all counties | [a] Immediate[b] May 2012[c, d, e] immediate
[f] Immediate esp Puchalla, Akobo, Pibor [g] Process/long term [h, j] Immediate [I,k, l, m, n] immediate |
[a] Church leaders, chiefs, influential elders, youth leaders[b, c, d,e] national, state and county governments[f] Ministry of Roads in both national and state
[g] county authorities [h, j] County commissioner and chiefs [i] State [k, l] County governments [m] state governments [n] State, County governments and traditional leaders |
I] continuous |
| 8 | Food insecurity | a) Provide security so people can produce foodb) Veterinary drugsc) Dissemination of weather early warning reports
d) Resttlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons e) Road infrastructure f) Food support to vulnerable groups g) Provision of tools, improved seeds and agricultural training h) Microfinance schemes i) Cooperatives j) Managing floods |
All apply to all counties | [a, b,c,d] immediate | [A] natinal, state and RRC[b] Ministry of livestock and fisheries[c] County authorities
[d] RRC and county authorities [e] National and state governments [f] RRC [g] Ministry of agriculture [h, I] Ministry of Finance [j] Ministry of Disaster Management, State and County authorities |
A, b]Urgent intervention |
| 9 | Internal displacement | a) Relief, resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPsb) Provision of securityc) Provision of orphanages | General/Across all counties | [a] Immediate[b] ongoing[c] immediate | [a] National and state governments and INGOS[b] National, state and local governments [organised forces and community policing][c] State governments local and INGOS | [a] on-going[c] on-going |
| 10 | Border disputes | a) Expedite border demarcation between payams, counties and statesb) State to regulate payam and county boundariesc) Grazing and water rights need to be negotiated by joint committees of chiefs
d) International border with Ethiopia to be agreed and demarcated |
Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Upper Nile, Pajut,Twic East, Duk, Dini, Yakwac, Khorfuluss, Ulang, Nasir, Ethiopia, Okielo, Chua, Jon | [a,b] Immediate[c] Immediate[d] Immediate | [a, b] National and state governments[c] State and local governments [traditional authorities][d] National government | [a,b] State to regulate boundaries of State, Township and Payams |
| 11 | Government and administration issues | a) Empowerment of traditional leadershipb) Appointment of chiefsc) Government must treat all communities equally
d) Governor should visit all communities regularly e) Creation of new counties and states to be discussed f) Location of state capital to central area should be discussed g) Location of county HQ h) Provision of prisons i) Provision of judges |
[e] Greater Pibor want new county in Boma and elevation of Greater Pibor to new state; Greater Akobo wants three new counties, Walgak (from Akobo), Pulchuol (from Uror), Pading (from Nyirol); Greater Fangak wants new state and new counties of Khorfuluss and Atar.[g] Atar-Khorfuluss[h] Pochalla, Pibor, Greater Akobo | [a] Continuously[b] Every term of 4-5 years.[c] Thrice a year-every annual budget allocation.
[d] to visit each county three times a year. [e] To be discuss this year from May 2012. [f] time indefinite [g] Time indefinite [h] Beginning this year 2012. [i] Beginning this year 2012 |
[a] Government, local community-Ministry of legal affairs to establish courts in all counties.[a1.The ministry of local government and security agents.[a2. State Local Government to provide salary to chiefs
[b] By community elections. [c] State and National government. [e] National and state governments (council of states) to discus the issue of new states and counties. [f] state government to discuss and implement the issue of relocation of state capital. [g] Commissioners and local authority to sought community opinions on County HQs. [h] State government to establish prisons. [i] State government (legal affairs) to assign and deploy judges. |
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| 12 | Other issues | a) Lou to continue distancing themselves from the prophet. Other communities should deal appropriately with their kujurs.b) Some leaders of these communities are alleged to have incited violence. They should take advantage of the opportunity presented by this meeting to clear themselves.c) Demining
d]Akobo River needs to be dredged e) Security of the Anuak community |
c) Pigi County | [a] beginning from May 2012 and continuously.[b] Beginning immediately after this conference.[c] Jan-April 2013
[d] immediately after this conference and continuously |
[a] Communities initiatives with the help of local authorities and state government.[b] National and state government (national security and legal affairs) jointly receive the names of leaders alleged to have incited violence and investigate matter.[c] national, state government and community (ministry of water resource and irrigation)
[d] state government and organise security forces |
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