Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State, Acholi- Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012, Communique

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State, Acholi- Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012, Communique
Date: 20 Apr 2012
Agreement status: Unilateral document
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: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
Parties: 1. Dr Stans Okot, for the Acholi Community

2. Anjelo Voga, for the Madi Community
Third parties: Witnessed by:

1. Winnie Babihuga - UNMISS
2. (illegible) - ICC
3. (illegible) - ICC
Description: The document is the outcome of a peace conference led by the Inter Church Committee (ICC) and the State level government in Eastern Equatoria state. The agreement addresses inter-communal violence between two groups; the Acholi and the Madi. The document documents the positions of the parties in relation to ongoing efforts for peace in line with the involvement of the ICC and the state government. Substantively it calls for immediate ceasefire between communities. It also calls for an official inquiry into historical incidents of violence and road blockages and provides for compensation of those impacted by the local conflict and return of displaced persons.

Agreement document: SS_120420_Acholi Madi Peace Conference Communique.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: Further reading suggests this may be part of a broader pattern of peace or reconciliation initiatives led by the Church to support local peace among communities and groups. There is suggestion in the text that the support from the Inter Church Committee in Eastern Equatoria state is consistent and it seems implicit that there will be other processes held by these groups. An UNMISS representative also signs as a witness / third party, providing further external support to this process.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: No clear link to a national process or direct reference in text.
Name of Locale: Magwi County
Nature of Locale: Smaller
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 4.131423, 32.299965
Participant type: Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): (names illegible - see witnesses 2 and 3 in the agreement text).
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Regional state actor Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): Page 2, WE THE DELEGATES ALSO:
3. Pray God almighty to bless and crown our efforts as we seek lasting peace between our people.
Grievance List: Page 1, HEREBY:
5. Call upon the government to carry out a full-fledged investigation into the circumstances that led to the blocking of the Juba -Nimule road in 2010, the violent confrontations in Kit, Opari, Amee, Magwi, Panykwara of October/November 2011, and all other violent incidents that have occurred in Magwi County in the recent past, with a view to bringing their perpetrators to justice.

Page 1, HEREBY:
6. Request the government and the relevant UN agencies to facilitate the return of all persons displaced by the unfortunate events of October/November 2011 and provide compensation to those who lost their loved ones and their property.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State

Acholi — Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012

Communique

We, the mandated delegates to the Acholi-Madi Peace Conference that held in Fr Satunino Hall, Catholic Diocese of Torit, from 16 to 20 April 2012:

After deliberating for three days on common issues affecting our community and recognizing the fact that the Acholi and Madi share strong historical and kinship ties;

Noting that over the years our common ties have been consistently threatened and jeopardized by violent conflicts between our respective peoples;

Affirming our belief that without peace no form of development is possible in Magwi County;

HEREBY:

1. Call for an immediate end to all hostilities and all other forms of violent confrontations between our respective communities.

2. Commit ourselves to continue to work together with the ICC, its partners and the relevant levels of government to seek lasting peace and to promote peaceful coexistence between our respective populations.

3. Rededicate ourselves to pursuing bilateral talks under the auspices of the ICC and its partners with a view to seeking an acceptable and negotiated settlement of our common differences.

4. Pledge ourselves to collaborate with the EES Government and other partners to promoté security, peace and development Magwi County.

5. Call upon the government to carry out a full-fledged investigation into the circumstances that led to the blocking of the Juba —Nimule road in 2010, the violent confrontations in Kit, Opari, Amee, Magwi, Panykwara of October/November 2011, and all other violent incidents that have occurred in Magwi County in the recent past, with a view to bringing their perpetrators to justice.

6. Request the government and the relevant UN agencies to facilitate the return of all persons displaced by the unfortunate events of October/November 2011 and provide compensation to those who lost their loved ones and their property.

WE THE DELEGATES ALSO:

1. Congratulate the Government of Eastern Equatoria State, the ICC and its partners for making this conference possible.

2. Express our sincere thanks to the facilitators, keynote speakers, the caterers, the drivers and all those who labored hard to make our stay in Torit comfortable and this conference a success.

3. Pray God almighty to bless and crown our efforts as we seek lasting peace between our people.

We acknowledge that there are contentious and unresolved issues relating to the status and ownership of certain localities of Magwi County, notably Kit/Ayii, Opari and Iwire.

We urge the ICC, the Government and other relevant partners to continue to facilitate the search for a solution to these burning issues based on the recommendations made during this conference.

We note that this conference is the first crucial step towards seeking lasting peace and reconciliation between the Acholi and Madi.

We understand that other conferences and/or forums shall be convened by the ICC in the shortest possible time to critically examine the key issues raised in this conference.

In testimony whereof, this communique has been signed by us, pending the publication ofthe minutes and resolutions of this peace conference.

Done in Torit, today the 20th Day of April, 2012