Recommendations of the Terekeka Peace Conference

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Recommendations of the Terekeka Peace Conference
Date: 30 May 2014
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: Terekeka, Awerial and Bor Counties
Third parties: -
Description: Short agreement regarding conflicts as a result of land disputes and cattle rustling between three communities. Agreement institutes regulations in attempting to deal with the rustling as well as extends some rights to individuals.

Agreement document: SS_140530_Recommendations of the Terekeka Peace Conference.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 meeting held in the Episcopal Church of the Sudan. The meeting was attended by the adminstrative leadership of various counties as wel as Bishop of the Terekeka Diocese. Secondary sources suggest that the NGO SOS Sahel South Sudan assisted with the facilitation of this meeting. Other evidence suggests that further peacemaking initiatives took place in Terekeka county (and later Terekeka state) after the signing of this agreement, although not necessarily involving the exact same signatories or faciltator (see references, Radio Tamazuj & UNMISS).
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.
Name of Locale: Terekeka, Awerial and Bor counties
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 5.859901, 31.698956
Participant type: Local state actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): Convenor: Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) Terekeka Diocese, meeting took place in an Episcopal Church Facilitator: SOS Sahel South Sudan (NGO), this is not listed in the agreement, but derived from a secondary source (SOS Sahel South Sudan, 2014; see references)
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: Page 2, The participants of the conference having met in Terekeka County between 29 – 30, 2014, deliberated exhaustively and recommended that:
...
7. While considering forgetting and forgiving what happened in the past between the three communities, the participants of the peace conference have recommended legal proceedings without any preconditions for person found guilty of killing or committing such a crime that causes death and such a person shall face the court of law for justice to prevail/
Cattle rustling/banditry: Pages 1-2, The participants of the conference having met in Terekeka County between 29 – 30, 2014, deliberated exhaustively and recommended that:
1. All cattle movements within each individual County or outside the respective individual County shall be regulated and issued relevant documents from a recognized Boma, Payam and County authority that will indicate the original initiation of the movement right from the headman, description of the colour(s) of such an animal, location where the cattle (animal) is destined, time of the movement and the purpose at which the cattle (animal) is intended for the movement.
2. Unless or otherwise the cattle or animals are compelled into movement caused by threat that puts the cattle or animals at risk beyond control, any cattle or
animal found on movement outside the indigenous area of inhabitation, such cattle or animal shall be deemed stolen and shall be reported to the relevant authority for investigation and possible legal process in accordance with this recommendations and shall ensure that.
a) Any cattle proved to have been stolen shall be recovered and the person proved guilty of stealing shall be charge to pay five animals in addition to the recovered one and sentenced to six months in jail without bail.
b) Any member of the community found in breach of the above recommendations with or without consent for the interest of the accused or acting on his/her own shall be penalized in accordance with (a) above.
3. All cattle or animal intended for social gathering and are to be slaughtered for the purposes of the gathering shall made aware to the headman who shall consider and approve the use and inform the Boma Chief of the event.

Pages 2-3, The participants of the conference having met in Terekeka County between 29 – 30, 2014, deliberated exhaustively and recommended that:
...
10. All cattle or animal keepers should protect agriculture lands and farms to reduce the threat to food insecurity.
11. Cattle camps that resist search in the event of cattle theft shall be considered as suspects and the camp chiefs and youth leaders held responsible until proven innocent by the Boma or Payam authorities. All the cattle camp chiefs and youth leaders are to abide by the recommendations of the conference.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Recommendations of the Terekeka Peace Conference

Cattle theft became an outstanding issue throughout the deliberations of the conference.

The second contentious issue was the movement of cattle from one location to another making it difficult to distinguish between normal grazing cattle with those that are stolen, at the same time many disputes are associated with cattle movements including grazing land and destruction of farms blamed on cattle camp chiefs and youth leaders.

References were made to the resolutions that might have been reached in the conference held earlier between Terekeka and Awerial communities organized by CEPO.

That there were also informal contacts with Bor community to adopt the same but there was little sign of acceptance from the Bor side as they were not part of that conference.

However the participants agreed and unanimously adopted that resolution but were reserved on the procedures to execute the resolution calling for approval from the three County Commissioners and their two Governors.

It is over three decades now since the bitter war between SPLM/A and SAF erupted and this conference was the first of its kind after independence of South Sudan for the communities of Terekeka, Awerial and Bor County to converge together in a peace conference held in the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Diocese of Terekeka, Terekeka County HQs.

In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act Section 12(7) and Section 128, neighboring Local Government Councils have responsibility of creating peaceful coexistence, maintenance of peace and security and rule of law.

Based on this understanding the communities of the three Counties agreed to hold a peace conference to enhance peaceful coexistence and use of the natural resources.

The participants of the conference having met in Terekeka County between May 29 – 30, 2014, deliberated exhaustively and recommended that:

1. All cattle movements within each individual County or outside the respective individual County shall be regulated and issued relevant documents from a recognized Boma, Payam and County authority that will indicate the original initiation of the movement right from the headman, description of the colour(s) of such an animal, location where the cattle (animal) is destined, time of the movement and the purpose at which the cattle (animal) is intended for the movement.

2. Unless or otherwise the cattle or animals are compelled into movement caused by threat that puts the cattle or animals at risk beyond control, any cattle or animal found on movement outside the indigenous area of inhabitation, such cattle or animal shall be deemed stolen and shall be reported to the relevant authority for investigation and possible legal process in accordance with this recommendations and shall ensure that.

. a) Any cattle proved to have been stolen shall be recovered and the person proved guilty of stealing shall be charge to pay five animals in addition to the recovered one and sentenced to six months in jail without bail.

. b) Any member of the community found in breach of the above recommendations with or without consent for the interest of the accused or acting on his/her own shall be penalized in accordance with (a) above.

3. All cattle or animal intended for social gatherings and are to be slaughtered for the purposes of the gathering shall made aware to the headman who shall consider and approve the use and inform the Boma Chief of the event.

4. A Cross County Border Tribunal to be established consisting of five members from each of the three Counties to resolve any arising issues that is against these recommendations and brief the three Commissioners and Governors, and the President on the any progress made between the three communities.

5. The Cross County Border Tribunal shall ensure that all dangerous weapons in the hand of the civil population of the three Counties and that of the other Counties in South Sudan are removed and any unauthorized persons disarmed immediately in order to build a permanent peace in South Sudan.

6. The State and National Governments should empower the Local Government Structures with provision of Law Enforcement Agencies that shall support the Bomas, Payam and Counties in execution of legal statuary and customary justice.

More development initiative and fund be established to create job opportunities for especially the youth who are used and engaged in conflicts.

7. While considering forgetting and forgiving what happened in the past between the three communities, the participants of the peace conference have recommended legal proceedings without any preconditions for person found guilty of killing or committing such a crime that causes death and such a person shall face the court of law for justice to prevail/

8. Inorder to promote peaceful coexistence between the three communities the conference recommended that any member of the communities in the three Counties when found committing any crime in any of the County should be treated fairly without favor and discrimination regardless of his/her ethnic background.

9. All the community members in these three Counties should denounce child marriage and promote education to all children

10. All cattle or animal keepers should protect agriculture lands and farms to reduce the threat of food insecurity.

11. Cattle camps that resist search in the event of cattle theft shall be considered as suspects and the camp chiefs and youth leaders held responsible until proven innocent by the Boma or Payam authorities.

All the cattle camp chiefs and youth leaders are to abide by the recommendations of the conference.

12. The same peace conference specifically for women be held to empower the women to pick up with the responsibility of bringing up youth to be good leaders and, social and economic workforce

13. All heritage sites shall be respected in accordance with the Local Government

and Land Acts, 2009.

No body from anywhere who has no historical background of a place has any right to name any place within the areas of the three communities unless approved by government legislation.

14. The Chiefs, Executive Directors or such person delegated by him/her and the Commissioners should increase the level of cooperation and coordination in order to detect and deter incidences of conflicts between the three communities.

15. All the three County authorities should develop legislations that shall foster and build a sustainable peace and development.