Statement of participants from Yirol meeting on Wunlit 1999 peace conference after 22 years (Yirol Agreement)

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Statement of participants from Yirol meeting on Wunlit 1999 peace conference after 22 years (Yirol Agreement)
Date: 19 May 2021
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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
Parties: The agreement lists the following signatories:

Peter Nyuong Danhiar (Paramount Chief, Payinjiar County)

Gum Mading Akuecbany (Paramount Chief, Wunlit County)

Sawat Malual Arop (Paramount Chief, Aduol Kong County)

Jacob Madhel Lang (Paramount Chief, Aweng Payam, Twic County and Chairperson COTAL Warrap State)

Andrew Madot Buoi (Paramount Chief, Yirol East County, Nyang Payam)

Joseph Kong Yoach (Paramount Chief, Guit County)

Elizabeth David Dabuol Ngot (Women League Chairperson, Koch County)

Isaac Magok Gatluak (Paramount Chief, Mayendit County)

Stephen Kuong Mabil (Paramount Chief, Leer County)

Madut Aguer Adel (Paramount Chief, Tonj East County)

Reechdit Anyieth Reech (Paramount Chief, Yirol East County)

Bahon Mabor Deng (Paramount Chief, Yirol West County)

Thiik Riiny Giir (Paramount Chief, Gogrial East County)

Marial Dhieu Malual (Paramount Chief, Yirol East County)

Malok Wol Madhieu (Paramount Chief, Tonj East County)
Third parties: Rift Valley Institute, Assistance Mission for Africa and the Swiss government.
Description: A short agreement calling for further implementation of inter-communal reconciliation efforts involving county chiefs, women, youth and religious leaders through continued community dialogues in line with the aims of the Wunlit agreement of 1999. Substantively this agreement follows up on its partner agreement in Nyal and makes provision for return of IDPS, development and humanitarian supports to address flooding and calls for the enforcement by the office of the regional commissioner to address key issues for community peace. The provisions address community violence and hate speech acts and the prevalence of weapons within communities, calling for an overall solution to ongoing inter-communal violence in border areas between the states.

Agreement document: SS_210519_Yirol meeting signed statement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 2, Therefore we resolve:
- To reconvene a second Wunlit meeting bringing together all chiefs from across the three regions together with commissioners, youth, women and religious leaders to convene once again in Wunlit and evoke the spirit of Wunlit;

Page 2, Signatories: We, the undersigned, resolve this on Wednesday 19 May in Yirol, Yirol West County, Lakes State, South Sudan.
... Elizabeth David Dabuol Ngot, Women League Chairperson, Koch County

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: Implementation→Women's role and consideration in implementation of the agreement
Page 2, Therefore we resolve:

- To reconvene a second Wunlit meeting bringing together all chiefs from across the three regions together with commissioners, youth, women and religious leaders to convene once again in Wunlit and evoke the spirit of Wunlit;
Implementation→Signing or witnessing agreement
Page 2, Signatories: We, the undersigned, resolve this on Wednesday 19 May in Yirol, Yirol West County, Lakes State, South Sudan.

... Elizabeth David Dabuol Ngot, Women League Chairperson, Koch County
Other: No specific mention.

Statement of participants from Yirol meeting on Wunlit 1999 Peace Conference after 22 years

Yirol, 18-19 May 2021

On 18 — 19 May, we the thirty-one representative chiefs and women from Unity State, Lakes State and Warrap State, members of the original Wunlit Peace Conference of 1999, brought together by the Rift Valley Institute and Assistance Mission for Africa, with support from the Swiss Government, met in Yirol, Yirol West County, Lakes State.

The objectives of the meeting were to:

• Receive the research findings from the Rift Valley Institute and Catholic University of

South Sudan oral history memory project on the 1999 Wunlit Peace Conference;

• Celebrate the achievements of Wunlit;

• Document proposed ways forward for South Sudan considering the lessons learnt from Wunlit.

In recent South Sudanese history one of the most significant peace-building events was the Wunlit Peace Conference of 1999.

Wunlit was a meeting of chiefs, organised by churches, that began the process of reunification of the two factions of the SPLA/M. The Wunlit meeting paved the way for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, which brought South Sudan into being as a nation.

Following the preceding meeting held in Nyal 13-14 May, this meeting in Yirol gave us the opportunity to reignite our memories of the Wunlit 1999 Peace Conference, which has inspired and encouraged us.

During this meeting we reviewed and discussed the Nyal statement and therefore:

We acknowledge and endorse and reiterate:

• All points made in the statement issued from the counterpart Nyal meeting 13-14

May 2021 and would want to add the following items;

• In particular, the absence of key chiefs missing from our meeting, notably from the Bul Nuer community, and the prevalence of guns in the hands of our young men;

We recognise with concern:

• The ongoing clashes and acts of violence at the border areas between our communities;

• That the Commissioner of Payinjiar County has not yet taken up his position meaning that the Commissioners of the neighbouring counties do not have a counterpart in place with whom to resolve key issues;

• The serious flooding and subsequent challenges to livelihoods faced by the citizens of Payinjiar County.

We appeal:

• To the Transitional Government of National Unity, Republic of South Sudan, and to the Community in Payinjiar County to address the concerns around the Commissioner as soon as possible;

• To the Transitional Government of National Unity, Republic of South Sudan, and our partners in peace, to organise a Governors' and Commissioners' conference to bring together Governors and Commissioners of Yirol East, Yirol West, Payinjiar, Rumbek

East, Rumbek North, Tonj East, Twic, Mayom, Gogrial East Counties, and Abyei Administrative Area;

• To our community leaders at large to stop hate speech and inciting community violence;

• To the Church to be actively involved and remain visible in the support of work of community peace and social cohesion;

• To the humanitarian actors to provide support to those displaced by the flooding in Unity State.

Therefore we resolve:

• To accept peace amongst our communities;

• That our people in Payinjiar County should be welcome for peaceful coexistence to the drylands in Lakes State whilst the floods subside;

• To work amongst ourselves to identify and condemn the thieves, criminals and peace spoilers in our communities;

• To reconvene a second Wunlit meeting bringing together all chiefs from across the three regions together with commissioners, youth, women and religious leaders to convene once again in Wunlit and evoke the spirit of Wunlit;

• To reiterate our request for a joint meeting with President Salva Kiir and First VicePresident Dr Riek Machar to discuss the issues of local conflict amongst our communities.

We, the undersigned, resolve this on Wednesday 19 May in Yirol, Virol West County, Lakes State, South Sudan: