Pageri Peace Forum Resolutions

Country/entity
South Sudan
Region
Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name
Pageri Peace Forum Resolutions
Date
6 Mar 2020
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict
Stage
Framework/substantive - comprehensive
Conflict nature
Inter-group
Peace process
South Sudan post-secession process
Parties
A. Representatives Chiefs

1. Magret Oliva, PAYAM CHIEF, MOLi
2. Maku Felix, HEAD CHIEF, PAGERI PAYAM
3. Isaac Cinya, BOMA CHIEF, MUGALI
4. John Anzo, HEAD CHIEF, MUGALI
5. Akim John, CHIEF, BEKANGWA
6. Bol Kwiir, CHIEF, DINKA COMMUNITY
7. Martine Bona Akim, CHIEF OPARI
8. Felix Maku, BOMA CHIEF PAGERI

[Signature to side – not numbered] Koma James Aliku, Chief Nimule, Central Boma
[Signature to side – not numbered] Tobias Nduru, Head Chief of Opari

B. Representative Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
1. Mary Yar WOMEN ASSOCIATION NETWORK NIMULE
2. Maneno Rukia, PEACE LINK FOUNDATION

C. Representatives of the Refugees
1. Taban Michael Ben, Pangirinyang Refugee Camp Uganda

D. Representative Business Community Nimule
1. Steward Orule, Representative Business Community, Nimule

E. Representative Peace Committee, Nimule
1. Awizia Night Orrick, Chairlady

F. Representative Youth, Nimule
1. Komo Bosco, Youth Leader
[Signature to side] FADIL SILIMAN, Youth Leader

G. Representative of Cattle Herders
1. Abraham Makur Duot, Secretary Cattle Herders in Equatoria Region

H. Representatives Organize Forces, Commanders
1. James Omondi, Administrator, Wild Life Conservation, Nimule
2. David Lohai, Assistant Director, national Civil Defence Service, Nimule
3. Captain Sunday Silvino Akai Jamus, Acting Chief Inspector of Police, Nimule
4. Brigadier Angelo Dut Aduol, SSPDF Commander Arttilary Moli
5. LT COL Majok Deng, Tiger Division, Pageri Barrack
6. MAJ Akol Amet Major, Tiger Division, Nimule Barrack
Third parties
WITNESSES TO THE AGREEMENT
I. Representative Religions Leaders
Fr. Lazarus OLLA, Chair, Person Inter Church Committee (ICC), Nimule
J. County Authority
1. John Ohure Teeks, Executive Director
2. Hon, Emilio Igga, Former County Commissioner
Description
The agreement includes the resolutions but not the summary of the forum. The resolutions touch on return and repatriation of displaced populations, trust-building, and managing cattle related disputes and natural resources.

Local agreement properties

Process type
Formal structured process
Isolated example
Rationale
Local authorities, the Inter Church Committee and the UKAID's Peacebuilding Opportunity Fund supported the Pageri Peace Forum. Limited background research suggests that there have been other peacemaking efforts in the area, but no previous peace agreements could be found.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
No
Link to national process: articulated rationale
This agreement primarily deals with local issues and does not appear to be linked to the wider national-level peace process in South Sudan.
Name of Locale
Pageri, Moli, Opari, Kerepi, and other locations
Nature of Locale
Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD)
3.867000, 31.956000
Participant type
Local state actor
International or transnational 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)
Facilitators: The Pageri Peace Commission; Mr. John Ohure Teeks and the wider Pageri Administration; Inter Church Committee Supporter: UKAID's Peacebuilding Opportunity Fund (POF)
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
Local state actor Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

No specific mention.

Grievance List
Page 3, Pageri Peace Forum Resolutions, 2. Building Trust and Confidence
a) Noting the extent to which trust and confidence between the military and civilians has been broken, there should be periodical civil-military relations forums and community policing forums to restore trust and confidence, and establish partnership in the delivery of security, justice and crime prevention
Cattle rustling/banditry
Page 3, Pageri Peace Forum Resolutions, 3. Management of Cattle Related Conflicts
a) An urgent Peace Forum to be convened between cattle keepers and farmers in Pageri before cultivation starts, to minimise or prevent possible conflict
b) All cattle shall be registered with the appropriate County authority and Town Councils
c) All cattle keepers should report their presence to local chiefs, and farmers should report their issues to local chiefs
d) All cattle keepers should move their cattle far from farmlands.
e) Seasonal movement of cattle shall be regulated by Local Authorities and Committees constituted to implement these resolutions, and shall not contradict these resolutions.
f) When cows/goats/pigs destroy crops, animal owners will pay the following fines to crop owners:
• each cow will be charged SSP 35,000
• each goat will be charged SSP 20,000
• each pig will be charged SSP 25,000
• If the animal owner does not have money, 30% of the animals that destroyed the crops will be used as compensation
a) Those taking cattle for grazing and water should do so without carrying guns to allow individual or group accountability when crops are destroyed
b) Cattle keepers should respect farmers or host communities
c) County authority and Town Council, with support from security organs, shall regulate the number of guns used by cattle keepers, who should be disarmed, if possible.
Social cover

No specific mention.

Pageri Peace Forum

Organised by Pageri Local Government & Inter Church Committee, Nimule

March 4-6, 2020

Supported by South Sudan Peace Building Opportunities Fund

Summary

The Pageri Peace Forum is the initiative of the former Torit State government, namely the Peace Commission in support to local government and the Inter Church Committee in the former Pageri County.

With support from UKAID's Peacebuilding Opportunity Fund (POF), the Forum took place in Nimule, Eastern Equatoria State, from March 4-6, 2020.

Chaired by Mr. John Ohure Teeks, Pageri Administration Executive Director, the Forum explored what needs to be done to support the return of refugees from the camps in Uganda and of IDPs within the State.

Seventy-five participants (19 women;

56 men) actively engaged in the Forum which included representatives from local government, the organised forces (Tiger Division, SSPDF Artillery Unit at Mali , Wildlife, Police, Prison Services), from refugee camps and IDP settlements, religious and traditional leaders, civil society, women's and youth organisations, people with disability, the business community, and representatives from other communities residing in Nimule town.

Cattle herder leadership, Tiger division commanders, and SSPDF Commanders from Pageri, Nimule, Opari, Kerepi, and Moli, expressed appreciation for the Forum that enabled them to come together with the Madi community to strengthen their broken relationship, explore possible solutions and a way forward from the hurt and devastation caused following the 2016 conflict.

The organised forces expressed their deep regret, apologised for the destruction caused by their soldiers, and asked that the community report cases of destruction, harassment, looting and rape by soldiers under their command, so they face the law and be accountable for crimes committed.

Forum Objectives

■ To explore what needs to be done to allow the return of refugees and IDPs to their home areas of Pageri, Mali, Opari, Kerepi, and other locations

■ To create a platform under the leadership of local government that provides a space to strengthen peace and security initiatives in dialogue with all relevant actors

■ To identify issues that require local government and local communities to come together with cattle herders, organised forces, and other relevant actors to require resolution

Pageri Peace Forum Resolutions

1. Return/Repatriation of the I DPs and Refugees

a) There should be sensitization of I DPs and refugees in their respective camps on progress of implementation of R-ARCSS and community level peace processes intended to prepare their return home

b) Government and peace partners should support return of IDPs and refugees to their original settlements

c) Government and peace partners should initiate peace processes to address Uganda-South Sudan boarder encroachment dispute into South Sudan territory

d) Government should speed up withdrawal of military barracks from civilian areas to allow the return of the displaced and refugees

e) Government should speed up resettlement of IDPs living in disputed settlement areas to allow the return of those displaced elsewhere and of refugees

f) Government and partners should install better maternity and paediatric health facilities, furnish them with modern medical equipment to protect women and children.

2. Building Trust and Confidence

a) Noting the extent to which trust and confidence between the military and civilians has been broken, there should be periodical civil-military relations forums and community policing forums to restore trust and confidence, and establish partnership in the delivery of security, justice and crime prevention

b) Movement of soldiers (with or without uniform) carry weapons in the urban areas is hereby stopped.

County authority or Town Council shall work with the military to establish or activate military police to regulate movement of soldiers in civilians' residential areas

c) Within their jurisdiction, County Authorities and Town Council should issue resident identification cards while process National identification cards.

3. Management of Cattle Related Conflicts

a) An urgent Peace Forum to be convened between cattle keepers and farmers in Pageri before cultivation starts, to minimise or prevent possible conflict

b) All cattle shall be registered with the appropriate County authority and Town Councils

c) All cattle keepers should report their presence to local chiefs, and farmers should report their issues to local chiefs

d) All cattle keepers should move their cattle far from farmlands.

e) Seasonal movement of cattle shall be regulated by Local Authorities and Committees constituted to implement these resolutions, and shall not contradict these resolutions.

f) When cows/goats/pigs destroy crops, animal owners will pay the following fines to crop owners:

• each cow will be charged SSP 35,000

• each goat will be charged SSP 20,000

• each pig will be charged SSP 25,000

• If the animal owner does not have money, 30% of the animals that destroyed the crops will be used as compensation

a) Those taking cattle for grazing and water should do so without carrying guns to allow individual or group accountability when crops are destroyed

b) Cattle keepers should respect farmers or host communities

c) County authority and Town Council, with support from security organs, shall regulate the number of guns used by cattle keepers, who should be disarmed, if possible.

4. Managing Natural Resources

a) Logging of wood is hereby banned, effective from March 6, the day these resolutions were signed.

b) Logging licences issued by any level of government to individuals and companies have been annulled by the February 2020 Presidential decrees which dissolved national, states and local governments

c) Whoever is found guilty of illegal logging shall be handled according to the provisions of South Sudan Forestry Act (if any).

d) In the absence of such an act, a court of law shall compel the accused to plant 50 seedlings of trees (of either same specify species of trees, imprisoned for a term not exceeding 14 years without bail.

The logs or timber shall be confiscated by the government concerned.

e) Government officials should not in any way be involved in illegal logging

f) Government shall have the right to license logging where it deems fit to finance its budgets

5. Establishment of the Committee

a) A Committee shall be established to implement these resolutions

b) The committee is composed of representatives from:

• Local government

• Chiefs from Payam/Boma

• Cattle keepers

• Farmers/host communities

• Police

• Tiger Division, Nimule

• National Security Service, Nimule

• Wildlife

• Civil Defence (Fire Brigade)

Representatives Chiefs

Magret Oliva, PAYAM CHIEF, MOLi

Maku Felix, HEAD CHIEF, PAGERI PAYAM

Isaac Cinya, BOMA CHIEF, MUGALI

John Anzo, HEAD CHIEF, MUGALI

Akim John, CHIEF, BEKANGWA

Bol Kwiir, CHIEF, DINKA COMMUNITY

Martine Bona Akim, CHIEF OPARI

Felix Maku, BOMA CHIEF PAGERI

[Signature to side – not numbered] Koma James Aliku, Chief Nimule, Central Boma

[Signature to side – not numbered] Tobias Nduru, Head Chief of Opari

Representative Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)

Mary Yar WOMEN ASSOCIATION NETWORK NI MULE

Maneno Rukia, PEACE LINK FOUNDATION

Representatives of the Refugees

Taban Michael Ben, Pangirinyang Refugee Camp Uganda

Representative Business Community Nimule

Steward Orule, Representative Business Community, Nimule

Representative Peace Committee, Nimule

Awizia Night Orrick, Chairlady

Representative Youth, Nimule

Komo Bosco, Youth Leader

[Signature to side] FADIL SILIMAN, Youth Leader

Representative of Cattle Herders

Abraham Makur Duot, Secretary Cattle Herders in Equatoria Region

Representatives Organize Forces, Commanders

James Omondi, Administrator, Wild Life Conservation, Nimule

David Lohai, Assistant Director, national Civil Defence Service, Nimule

Captain Sunday Silvino Akai Jamus, Acting Chief Inspector of Police, Nimule

Brigadier Angelo Dut Aduol, SSPDF Commander Arttilary Moli

LT COL Majok Deng, Tiger Division, Pageri Barrack

MAJ Akol Amet Major, Tiger Division, Nimule Barrack

WITNESSES TO THE AGREEMENT

Representative Religions Leaders

Fr. Lazarus OLLA, Chair, Person Inter Church Committee (ICC), Nimule

County Authority

John Ohure Teeks, Executive Director

Hon, Emilio Igga, Former County Commissioner