Internal Cattle Migration Conference

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Internal Cattle Migration Conference
Date: 20 Nov 2020
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: The government of Lakes state and the leaders and representatives of the Dinka Agar community.

Signed by:

Hon. Maj. Gen. Makur Kulang Liei
Governor, Lakes State

Madol Mathok Agoldeer
Paramount Chief, Kuei

Majak Agok Machol
Paramount Chief, Aliamtoc 1

Manyang Derder Ajieng
Paramount Chief, Aliamtoc 2

Sebit Kuac Manyiel
Paramount Chief, Rup

Matueny Chapuol Achien
Paramount Chief, Pakam

Mangar Dhal Manyiel
Executive Chief, Kuei

Madeng Manyang Mangar Executive Chief, Aliamtoc 1

John Marial Dongrin
Executive Chief, Aliamtoc 2

Guong Akoldit Ruoc
Executive Chief, Rup

Mariik Liény Malith
Executive Chief, Pakam

Mariik Makulieny Mawuom
Gelweng Leader, Kuei

Magangrial Madol Makoi
Gelweng Leader, Aliamtoc 1

Maleny Manyuon Gueng
Gelweng Leader, Aliamtoc 2

Matur Majak Makuer
Gelweng Leader, Rup

Poth Deng Yii
Gelweng Leader, Pakam
Third parties: Witnessed by:

Khalif Farah - UNMISS

David Nyuol Vincent - POF
Description: A cattle migration conference agreement which establishes the conditions for the Dinka Agar community to move their cattle to Toc and is also in part an inter-communal reconciliation to address inter and intra communal conflict in the lakes state and surrounding areas. The agreement provides for compensation to victims of previous conflict and inter-communal cattle disputes. The agreement also contains annexes which describe pending issues which should be continued through dialogue and efforts from state government and monitoring bodies. These include reference to provisional agreements from the pre-agreement process to this conference and agreement. One annex sets out the list of outstanding issues between communities and on cross-border issues concerning other counties or communities. The second annex sets out the unilateral agreements or statements by each of the communities represented in the signing of this agreement, setting out each of their conditions and grievances which shape the premise of holding this conference and agreement.

Agreement document: SS_201120_Internal Cattle Migration Conference.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: This type of conference has a clearly structured and persistent nature as a mechanism which prepares communities for migration through dialogue. It is clearly supported by community level and regional state level officials, as well as by external bodies in the form of the Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund (POF) and UNMISS.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: No clear reference in the text, however given the context that this is a premigration conference which is central to national peace between Sudan and South Sudan as a type of negotiation prior to cattle migration during the wider migration season. This can be viewed as supporting a central part of peace in relation to the aims of the national process (see references) as a key point of ongoing dispute for pastoral communities with these annual movements (see examples on PA-X database of South Sudan national process agreements providing for annual migration).
Name of Locale: Rumbek
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 6.806975, 29.677826
Participant type: Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Regional state actor
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): Suggestion throughout agreement text that the Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund (POF) in partnership with UNMISS are supporting and coordinating meetings around this process. POF is a Uk led funding mechanism which involves working with local church groups and leadership groups to encourage dialogue between local communities (see references). The reference in the agreement text seems to indicate this level of support as being more than only financial in this instance and also supported by UNMISS, with both groups signing as witnesses as further external support: Page 1, Preamble, ... We also appreciate the dedicated support provided by the Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund (POF) in partnership with UNMISS which made this Internal Cattle Migration Conference possible.
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): Page 2, Resolutions of the Parties

5. We have agreed to conduct traditional rituals that used to be performed at Luak (shrine) by all sections and ask Panyar, Joth, and Amoth-nhom to contribute cattle to Luak Ajok GOP, followed by all the other sections.

6. We have agreed for our Spiritual Leaders, led by Panyar, to conduct the necessary rituals that are supposed to be performed before migrating to toc.
Grievance List: Page 1, Preamble

... We are aware of the destruction this conflict has inflicted on every aspect of our physical, social, and economic life and our mutual co-existence. We regret the failure to avert the losses caused by this crisis in a timely manner.

Page 2, Resolutions of the Parties

1. We, the leaders of Dinka Agar community, who have gathered here for the last four days, have agreed to wait until the formation of the Special Courts to hear all the pending cases and ensure that all victims are compensated accordingly. We ask the leadership of Lakes State to address this as a matter of priority.

Page 2, Resolutions of the Parties

7. We have agreed no one should migrate to toc with a gun and anyone found with a weapon in toc will be disarmed and fined by paying five cows. In return, we ask the government to deploy security forces in toc to take charge of our security.

8.We have agreed unanimously to condemn cattle theft and cattle exchange, and that anybody who will be killed during the process of stealing will not be revenged and those caught should be punished heavily by the law. If the thief kills someone (owner of the cattle) in the process of raiding, the victim(s) should be compensated by 51 cows, paid to the family of the deceased.

9.We have agreed that the apprehension of thieves or cattle rustlers and murderers will be coordinated by the Paramount Chiefs, Executive Chiefs and Gelweng leaders. These individuals will be brought to the Special Court to be constituted by the Chief Justice.

10.We have agreed that if any person steals a cow, he will be fined five cows, to be paid to the Government.

11. We have agreed to discourage and stop brewing of local alcohol in the villages and cattle camps. We understand the destruction this causes to our young people, and we commit to working with our women to find alternative means of supporting families.

Page 3, Resolutions of the Parties

14. We ask the management of POF to extend its peace and reconciliation programme across Lakes State because we (Dinka Agar) cannot be peaceful and yet our neighbours, Yirol and Gok are still fighting one another.
Cattle rustling/banditry: Page 2, Resolutions of the Parties

8. We have agreed unanimously to condemn cattle theft and cattle exchange, and that anybody who will be killed during the process of stealing will not be revenged and those caught should be punished heavily by the law. If the thief kills someone (owner of the cattle) in the process of raiding, the victim(s) should be compensated by 51 cows, paid to the family of the deceased.

9. We have agreed that the apprehension of thieves or cattle rustlers and murderers will be coordinated by the Paramount Chiefs, Executive Chiefs and Gelweng leaders. These individuals will be brought to the Special Court to be constituted by the Chief Justice.

10. We have agreed that if any person steals a cow, he will be fined five cows, to be paid to the Government.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Internal Cattle Conference

Airport Hotel, Rumbek I Lakes State, South Sudan

17-20 November 2020

Preamble

We the local leaders, Paramount Chiefs, Executive Chiefs, Spiritual Leaders, Elders, Youth, Intellectuals, and Women of Agar community have suffered the consequences of

prolonged inter- and intra- communal conflict.

We are aware of the destruction this conflict has inflicted on every aspect of our physical, social, and economic life and our mutual co-existence.

We regret the failure to avert the losses caused by this crisis in a timely manner.

We also appreciate the dedicated support provided by the Peacebuilding Opportunities

Fund (POF) in partnership with UNMISS which made this Internal Cattle Migration Conference possible.

Further, we appreciate the tireless effort of our state leadership, under Hon.

Maj.

Gen.

Makur Kulang Liei, Governor of Lakes State, for ensuring relative peace and support to this conference till this day has been reached

We recognise the United Kingdom Government for supporting the cattle camp research in the five sections of the Dinka Agar, the annual pre-migration dialogues, and this Internal Cattle Migration Conference.

We affirm our commitment to maintain this peace and restore lives, our norms and social fabric.

We assure ourselves, the Government and peace partners that we will continue to dialogue until a lasting and sustainable peace with all neighbouring communities is achieved.

We do, as a result of this, resolve today at this gathering, held at Airport Hotel Rumbek,

Lakes State, to the following resolutions:

Resolutions of the Parties

1. We, the leaders of Dinka Agar community, who have gathered here for the last four days, have agreed to wait until the formation of the Special Courts to hear all the pending cases and ensure that all victims are compensated accordingly.

We ask the leadership of Lakes State to address this as a matter of priority.

2. We have also agreed for any cases of cattle balances to be heard once the Special Courts are formed.

If anyone recognises their bull or cow in the toc, they should report this to the Monitoring Committee immediately.

It is the Monitoring Committee who should decide the course of action.

3. The conference has resolved that the migration of cattle to toc will be regulated by the Government prior to the movement.

We have also agreed for the Government to set a date for the migration, until which no cattle camp should move.

4. We have agreed that if any individual(s) initiate the movement of their cattle camp to the toc without Government approval, they will be fined and held accountable.

5. We have agreed to conduct traditional rituals that used to be performed at Luak (shrine) by all sections and ask Panyar, Joth, and Amoth-nhom to contribute cattle to Luak Ajok GOP, followed by all the other sections.

6. We have agreed for our Spiritual Leaders, led by Panyar, to conduct the necessary rituals that are supposed to be performed before migrating to toc.

7. We have agreed no one should migrate to toc with a gun and anyone found with a weapon in toc will be disarmed and fined by paying five cows.

In return, we ask the government to deploy security forces in toc to take charge of our security.

8. We have agreed unanimously to condemn cattle theft and cattle exchange, and that anybody who will be killed during the process of stealing will not be revenged and those caught should be punished heavily by the law.

If the thief kills someone (owner of the cattle) in the process of raiding, the victim(s) should be compensated by 51 cows, paid to the family of the deceased.

9. We have agreed that the apprehension of thieves or cattle rustlers and murderers will be coordinated by the Paramount Chiefs, Executive Chiefs and Gelweng leaders.

These individuals will be brought to the Special Court to be constituted by the Chief Justice.

10. We have agreed that if any person steals a cow, he will be fined five cows, to be paid to the Government.

11. We have agreed to discourage and stop brewing of local alcohol in the villages and cattle camps.

We understand the destruction this causes to our young people, and we commit to working with our women to find alternative means of supporting families.

12. We have agreed that if any person of any section breaches this agreement, the first action will be for their leaders, starting with the Paramount Chiefs, to be arrested immediately, and they will be answerable to the government.

13. We the Delegates, Chiefs, Gelweng, Akut de door, under POF and the Lakes State Peaceful Disarmament Steering Committee, immediately after this conference, shall go and disseminate peace messages and these resolutions.

14. We ask the management of POF to extend its peace and reconciliation programme across Lakes State because we (Dinka Agar) cannot be peaceful and yet our neighbours, Yirol and Gok are still fighting one another.

15. We have agreed to consult and seek permission from the authorities and traditional leaders of Belle and Mvolo before migrating to their land.

16. We have agreed for the Paramount Chiefs, Executive Chiefs and Gelweng leaders to meet and review the progress of the agreement every six weeks.

We ask POF and UNMISS to help coordinate these meetings.

17. We have agreed to continue to dialogue and resolve the pending issues, annexed to this agreement, with the support of POF, UNMISS and other peace partners.

18. We have agreed to establish the Internal Cattle Migration Monitoring Committee (ICMMC) of fifteen members to monitor, liaise and implement these resolutions.

The Committee's composition shall be as follows: