Agreement between the Wonduruba Community and the SPLA Commando Unit

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Agreement between the Wonduruba Community and the SPLA Commando Unit
Date: 3 Dec 2015
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )
Agreements relate to several distinct dyads, and also the negotiated independence of South Sudan, and subsequent internal conflict in South Sudan. Sudan-South Sudan. The long-standing conflict between the north and the south of the country dates back to colonial times, where the British introduced a so-called ‘Southern Policy’, severely hampering population movements between these big regions. Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, southern movements started to fight for independence; this fight became professionalised in 1983 with the foundation of the soon internationally supported Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). When the Islamic Front government introduced strict sharia laws in the south after it took over power in 1988 the war intensified. A decade later, the military situation reached a stalemate, enabling internationally facilitated peace negotiations to begin in 1997. After more fighting, a final negotiation push began in 2002, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Areement (CPA) in January 2005.

Sudan-South Sudan post referendum. South Sudan became independent in July 2011; since then, relations between the two countries are complicated and violent conflict led by the SPLM (North) in the Sudanese Nuba mountains region has since intensified.

Darfur. Other long-standing violent conflicts are in the east and the west of the country. In the east, the Beja Congress, established in 1957, is the spearhead of a currently ‘peaceful’ opposition movement. In the west, the violent conflict in Darfur intensified in the early 2000s and rapidly gained international attention, even resulting in genocide charges against leading figures of the Sudanese government. The situation on the ground is complex, with over a dozen organisations (most notably the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement) fighting the Sudanese government and allied groups like the Janjaweed – although all parties have switched sides on numerous occasions. Several mediation attempts have not been successful, due to the shaky commitment of the Sudanese central government and the distrust among the armed opposition.

South Sudan - internal
In December 2013, after president Salva Kiir accused opposition leader Riek Machar of attempting a coup, violent conflict broke out between government forces of the SPLM/A and anti-governmental groups. In addition, several other political militias as well as communal militias have joined the conflict. In 2015 the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed. Due to unsuccessful implementation the agreement was revitalized in 2018. In September 2019, Kiir and Machar agreed to establish a power-sharing government after struggles on forming a unity transitional government.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
Parties: Signatories:
Engineer Juma Stephen Lugga
Representative of Wounduruba Community

Colonel Juma Sanango Kher Alla
Representative f SPLA, Commando Unit
Third parties: Bishop Paul Yugusuk,
Lead Mediator, Church Leaders Mediation Initiative

Witnesses:
Hon. Augustino Kiri Gwolo
Commissioner of Lainya County & Representative of the Government of Central Equatoria State,

Major General Johnson Juma Okot,
SPLA Division VI Commander

Rt. Rev. Matthew Taban Peter,
Diocesan Bishop of Wounduruba

Rt. Rev. Bismark Manday Avokaya,
Diocesan Bishop of Mundri
Description: Agreement brokers peace between the SPLA unit stationed in Wonduruba represented by Col. Juma Sanango Kher Alla, and the local community following abuses by the SPLA unit and mass displacement. The agreement seeks to promote forgiveness between the two sides, punishment of soldiers who perpetrated crimes, a re-instatement of local government officials/offices and a return of refugees.

Agreement document: SS_151203_Agreement between Wonduruba Community and SPLA Commando Unit.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: The agreement is the result of a two-day 'peace and Reconciliation dialogue mediated by Church Leader Meditation Initiative'. Church leaders and sub-national government officials signed the agreement and attended an official ceremony to mark the outcome of the mediation initiative. Limited background research does not suggest a history of signing peace agreements in Wonduruba specifically. However, this agreement is part of a mediation initiative of the Church Leaders Mediation team that has led to the signing of another agreement in Equatoria (Mundri agreement, 15 November 2015).
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: Neither the agreement text nor limited background research suggests a link to the national-level peace process. Boswell (2019, 12; see references) notes that the mediation initiative that led to the signing of the agreement was not officially recognised or supported by the main conflict parties (the Government of South Sudan and the SPLA-IO).
Name of Locale: Wonduruba
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 4.319055, 30.982015
Participant type: Local state actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Regional state actor
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): Mediators: Bishop Paul Yugusuk, Lead Mediator, Church Leaders Mediation Initiative; Rt. Rev. Matthew Taban Peter, Diocesan Bishop of Wonduruba, Witness; Rt. Rev. Bismark Manday Avokaya, Diocesan Bishop of Mundri, Witness
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: Page 3, Resolution No. 10, That the Wonduruba Payam administrative area coordinator shall established a committee to investigate loss of live, looted shops, houses, hospitals, Government and non- Governmental institutions etc as a result of the conflict and consequently submit a report to the Governor of Central Equatoria State for appropriate action
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: Page 3, Resolutions No. 8, That the leadership of the SPLA shall take appropriate disciplinary measures on officers and NCO's who will commit crime in the community.

Agreement between Wounduruba Community and SPLA, Commando Unit on the resolution of Wonduruba Conflict

Preamble,

We the delegates representing Wonduruba community and the SPLA Commando Unit, having deliberated on the conflict in Wonduruba, Mangkaro, Menkele, Katigiri and Tuliang and address all our differences during a peace and Reconciliation dialogue mediated by Church Leaders Mediation Initiative led by Bishop Paul Yugusuk from Tuesday 1st to Wednesday 2nd of December 2015 at Wonduruba do hereby agree on the following resolutions;

Resolutions No.

That the Wonduruba community and the SPLA Commando Unit have forgiven themselves on the conflict in Wonduruba, Mangkaro, Mengele, Katigiri and Tuliang.

Resolutions No.

That the community of Wonduruba and SPLA Commando Unit will live in harmony respecting one another as citizen with different responsibilities in accordance to the interim constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.

Resolutions No.

That the SPLA shall adhere to the SPLA act and the consultation in all their activities as shall protect the community without any harassment or intimidation in accordance to the interim constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.

Resolutions No.

That the SPLA and the community leaders shall hence forth build trust between the community and the SPLA and shall put in place all necessary confidence building measures to enable returnees to settle peacefully.

Resolutions No.

That the Central Equatoria State Government shall immediately send local Government administration and organized forces to Wonduruba to resume their duties.

Resolutions No.

That the leadership of SPLA guarantees that the local administration and other organized forces that they will not be intimidated when they return and resume their duties.

Resolutions No.

That the local civil administration and the SPLA and other organized forces shall strengthen their unity and commitment as members of security committee.

Resolutions No.

That the leadership of the SPLA shall take appropriate disciplinary measures on officers and NCO's who will commit crime in the community.

Resolutions No.

That any community member commit any crime shall be deal with in accordance with laws of the Republic of South Sudan.

Resolutions No.

That the Wonduruba Payam administrative area coordinator shall establish a committee to investigate loss of live, looted shops, houses, hospitals, Government and non-Governmental institutions, etc.

as a result of the conflict and consequently submit a report to the Governor of Central Equatoria State for appropriate action.

Resolutions No.

That the Church leaders mediation Initiative an the Government of Central Equatoria State will request for the humanitarian assistance from NGO's and well wishes to enable resettle the IDPs from Lainya, Yei, Ganji, Ku'da and other displaced camps.

Resolutions No.

That the agreement shall be disseminated to the community and SPLA Commando Unit through media and civic awareness.

Resolutions No.

That the Church Leaders Mediation Initiative is requested to dialogue with opposition in Wonduruba area for possible peace and reconciliation initiative.

Resolutions No.

That the Church Leaders Mediation Initiative monitoring team shall monitor the implementation of the agreement and shall meet and consolidate with parties to the agreement.

Resolutions No.

That we commit ourselves to adhere to the agreement and shall not violate it whatsoever.

Signatories:

Engineer Juma Stephen Lugga

Representative of Wounduruba Community

Colonel Juma Sanango Kher Alla

Representative f SPLA, Commando Unit

Bishop Paul Yugusuk,

Lead Mediator, Church Leaders Mediation Initiative

Witnesses:

Hon. Augustino Kiri Gwolo

Commissioner of Lainya County & Representative of the Government of Central Equatoria State,

Major General Johnson Juma Okot,

SPLA Division VI Commander

Rt. Rev. Matthew Taban Peter,

Diocesan Bishop of Wounduruba

Rt. Rev. Bismark Manday Avokaya,

Diocesan Bishop of Mundri