Farming Season not Conflict nor Fighting Season
By Abraham Mou Magok, Yirol, South Sudan
May 3, 2016 (SSB) —- There are identified main vital factors destabilizing peace reality and achievement between Eastern and Western Lakes State Communities. The issues that featured most were; cattle rustling/theft, road ambushes for robberies, revenge killings, rape of women on roads and bushes while fetching firewood, vegetables, grass, wild fruits and provocative songs of painful past events. The perpetrators of these criminal acts are armed youth, Gelweng of Greater Lakes State territories identified as Yirol West, Yirol East, Rumbek East and Rumbek Central Counties. The four said counties are apparently the most vulnerable group to the impact of the on-going conflict. Aluakluak, Geer, Ngop Payams of Yirol bordering Akot and Paloch Payams of Rumbek are much prone to cattle rustling carried out by armed Youth from either side of the conflict.
The chief factor fueling the conflict is the presence of arms in the hands of civilians they acquire from illicit sources of arms and ammunitions sale. Armed Youth of both sides ambush along Yirol-Rumbek road and rob travelers of their valuables especially passengers in vehicles and other motorists. They ambush roads too deliberately to kill in revenge for their lost ones. During festivals and seasonal dances, youth sing provocative songs that arouse anger and subsequently violence in the other party.
Other factors affecting peace are the scarcity of pasture for cattle that leads to disputes over grazing among pastoralists. For example, Tonykok pastoralist movement to Jur pastureland at Mundri County in Amadi State has been denied access by Jur pastoral people this year due to scarce resource besides insecurity there posed by violent clashes between the government and the opposition in Western Equatoria Region. Cattle are also short of drinking water sources. There are no enough water points for them during pastoral movements. Jur Community of Mvolo County are reportedly harbouring Agaar cattle raiders who bring stolen heads of cattle from Yirol Community for exchange (Faka) with the Jur. Those complicit in crime are the root cause of the intermittent events of conflict.
Injustice in form of bribery is another element keeping the violence on the rise. Delayed and prolonged prosecutions by the government also influence revenge killings. Improper restitution/blood fine triggers hatred and feeling of revenge killing in Youth. They are very much involved in magic as a means of gaining victory against their enemies during attacks. They are given charms by magicians in order to enable them defeat and win. The poor road infrastructure does not enable the government for rescue operations against aggressors at the border points of affected populations. During floods, roads become so impassable that vehicles cannot move up to the border areas. The motive underlying cattle rustling is the huge bride price demanded in marriage; youth raid and steal cattle in order to afford huge marriage charges as I mentioned early in my post Dated March 24, 2016 ‘high marriage price contributes to insecurity and hunger’.
Food insecurity is another factor compelling youth in hunger/famine situations to steal cattle and other livestock for subsistence. Youth loot each other of livestock that are sold in exchange for food. Alcoholism acts as a catalyst in Youth making them hostile in their operations at borders and even much more in towns in the sight of government security forces. Many people have lost their lives gunned down by alcoholic armed civilians on several occasions in Eastern and Western Lakes State towns with the perpetrators going scot-free.
Rampant revenge killings and cattle related violence diminishing in Lakes State although there are intermittent cattle raids and theft cases still reported across the border of Geer and Paloch. The border of Aluakluak – Akot has been peaceful for quite some time without incidents of robberies, rape etc. along this route except yesterday where innocent people lost their lives. There is an expected disarmament exercise already spearheaded by voluntary disarmaments. A few individuals are reportedly handing in their firearms to the new State government prior to the set date.
Recently, it was reported that one hundred and sixteen cattle rustlers had been prosecuted. These young men were identified to be from Ngop and Geer Payams of Eastern Lakes State, who collude in cattle raids and exchange stolen cattle for other across the borders. The question remains; where are those of the Western Lakes State (Rumbek)?
However; I do suggest or recommend the following points if the Government may accept them:
- An extensive disarmament be carried out in Greater Lakes State among armed youth to stop innocent killings and other criminal acts. It is the duty of the government as well to ban illicit arms and ammunitions sale to civilians. Those disobedient to the order be held accountable as justice demands.
- Regular police and the armed forces should be well armed and deployed along Rumbek-Yirol road to guard against such criminal acts as robberies, rapes, revenge killings etc.
- There be an integrated gelweng with drawn membership from four affected Counties to help in identification of culprits’ arrest and apprehension by law enforcement groups.
- There be Peace Committees formed with drawn membership from Counties in question; Yirol West, Yirol East, Rumbek East and Rumbek Center. The ten (10) areas/locations in question; Aluakluak, Ngop, Geer, Agany, Atiriu, Pagarau, Akot, Atiaba, Paloch and Amokpiny. These committees will be tasked in peace awareness along the border areas to mitigate violence and bring about peace among different communities of Greater Lakes State. Its mandate would be to supervise borders vulnerable to the impact of conflict in the new Eastern Lakes State with its neigbouring States. The Committee has been gender balanced an incentive to peace as inequality also puts things at odds.
- Regulate movement of cattle across the borders against stolen cattle exchange (FAKA) by Gelweng. The Counties of Yirol and Rumbek to unify pastoralist movement to minimize disputes over pasture and water. There should also be peace awareness in cattle camps by peace committees to aggressive youth. Introduction of literacy programs to illiterate youth so as to sensitize them over the negative impacts of conflict.
- Those complicit in crime be prosecuted. Members of community police are reportedly said to be complicit in criminal acts. The government should issue penalty against dishonour of mandate.
- The government should ban songs provocative of passionate past events during festivals and recreational grounds. During dances and other sporting events, youth sing songs that arouse anger in the intended party. They compose these songs of the painful past during initiation rites and marriage ceremonies.
- Those killed in the act of stealing have no right to restitution/blood fine.
- There should be immediate arrest and apprehension of culprits by the government without delay and be prosecuted. Prolonged prosecutions spark off violence and recurrent revenge killings by aggrieved parties.
- The local authorities should help in the recovery and return of stolen property to rightful owners.
- Chiefs of conflicting communities should convene periodically at border points to negotiate peace e.g. Aluakluak –Akot, Geer-Paloch, Geng Geng-Mundari, Anuol-Mundari, and Ngop-Mvolo. Such peace dialogues across borders could bring about peace along border lines.
- Heavy penalties be legislated against major crimes. The penalties should assign them hard labour in road construction and additional heavy fines in cash.
- Promote peace in sports. For instance, traditional dances and such modern sporting events as football matches bring together members from different backgrounds and specialties. Commercial deals, intermarriages, schooling are forms of socialism adding up to peace.
- The government should regulate bride price in marriages. Huge dowries compel youth to raid cattle in order to afford huge dowry in marriage.
- Support pastoral communities with water-yards as pasture and water are outstanding factors in the conflict among the cattle keepers. They are to be built along migratory routes to limit pastoral movements beyond borders. Most of the communal disputes and skirmishes occur at water points and pasture sites.
- There should be food security interventions stepped up by the government and humanitarian agencies to combat hunger and famine in the warring communities over animal resources and others. There needs to be improved farming practices in orientation, use of fertilizers and farm manure to improve soil fertility leading to high crop yields and bumper harvest. Most communities lack skills and need to be trained technically by agricultural experts. They are to be provided farm implements as most people don’t have financial capacities to purchase farm tools from blacksmiths for crop production.
- To support a conference bringing spiritual leaders (bany-bith) together discouraging their negative roles in conflict resolution.
- That there be a direct peace conference between Geer-Paloch Payams given intermittent cattle theft/raids by either group.
- Recognize and support youth in sports development and in the music industry to fully equip aspiring artists utilize their talents effectively. Sports and music industry bring together youth in their activities from different communities and regions, hence bringing about peace.
In conclusion, I urge the Government to continue taking on its mandate into the future aimed at stable prosperous communities of Greater Lakes State and South Sudan in general. Arms proliferation is the sole factor upsetting peace in Greater Lakes State which the government must pay special attention.
May God Bless South Sudan!
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