2nd Annual Dinka Agaar Internal Cattle Migration Conference

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: 2nd Annual Dinka Agaar Internal Cattle Migration Conference
Date: 8 Dec 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: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Other
Peace process: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
Parties: Mabor Alir Cipuou-Nyuc, Head of chiefs, Rumbek Centre County;
Jacob Det Aciek, Head of Chiefs, Rumbek East;
Majak Malual Kodi, Head of Chiefs, Rumbek Centre County;
Mathiang Ater Chier, Head of chief Rumbek North County;
Marial Maker Mabor, Head of chiefs, Rumbek East County;
Deer Makuer Gol, Executive chief, Rumbek Centre County;
Madeng Mangang Mangar, Executive chief, Rumbek East County;
John Marial Dongrin, Executive Chief, Rumbek East County;
Marik Lieny Malith, Executive chief, Rumbek North County;
Guong Akoldit Ruoc, Executive chief, Rumbek Centre County;
Hellena Aluel Alama, Women leader, Rumbek East County;
Yar Matur Koriom, Women leader, Rumbek Centre County;
Ayen Madit Majier, Women leader, Rumbek North County;
Dhiim Mabeny Malual, Gelweng leader, Rumbek East County;
Maliet Gumnok Ater, Gelweng leader, Rumbek North County;
Matur Majak Makuer, Gelweng leader, Rumbek Centre County.
Third parties: Hon. Poth Madit Dut, Acting Governor of Lakes State-Rumbek;
Hon. Benjamin Makuer Mabor, Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies;
Hon Beny Matur Mathiang, Minister of Peacebuilding;
Khalif Farah, UNMISS-CAD Rumbek;
Rob Lancaster, Program Manager Peace Canal/POF Rumbek.
Description: Communities from across Lakes State met to establish a framework for resolving cattle disputes and reducing cattle-related violence and created an Internal Cattle Migration Monitoring Committee to monitor and implement their resolutions.

Agreement document: SS_211208_2nd Annual Dinka Agaar Internal Cattle Migration Conference (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: The agreement emerged from an annual conference organised with the assistance of a number of peace-building organisations such as UNMISS.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement deals with cattle-related conflict in the Rumbek county in Lakes State. South Sudan. There is no reference to a national peace process.
Name of Locale: Lakes State
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 6.807110, 29.677400
Participant type: Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Regional state actor
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): UNMISS-CAD and Peace Canal
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): we have resolved today on 8th December, 2021 in Rumbek, the following resolutions;
...
14. Spiritual leader of Panyar section, uncle Machar Dhuol will perform the peace ritual so that all sections co-exist peacefully in the Toc.
Grievance List: RESOLUTIONS
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aware of the fact that cattle movements constitute one of the key conflict triggers among sections of our community;
Cattle rustling/banditry: we have resolved today on 8th December, 2021 in Rumbek, the following resolutions;
...
2. All stolen cattle must be returned to their rightful owners before movement of cattle camps to TOC.
...
6. Anyone who may identify his stolen bull/cow is not allowed to take it by force, doing so amounts to a violation that is severely punishable by law.
7. Similar conferences need to be held in Yirol and Cueibet areas because cattle movements cause similar communal conflicts in those areas.
...
24. Those who may continue to practice cattle theft should be reported by their immediate community leaders or else they shall be considered to have condoned the crimes, which is punishable as far as these resolutions are concerned.
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27. We have agreed to establish the Internal Cattle Migration Monitoring Committee (ICMMC) of sixteen members to monitor, liaise and implement these resolutions.
Social cover: we have resolved today on 8th December, 2021 in Rumbek, the following resolutions;
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Chiefs who condone evaders and other criminals will be held responsible by the State Government.
...
3. All wanted criminals must be surrendered to government before movement to TOC.
...
24. Those who may continue to practice cattle theft should be reported by their immediate community leaders or else they shall be considered to have condoned the crimes, which is punishable as far as these resolutions are concerned.

2nd Annual Dinka Agaar Internal Cattle Migration Conference

7th -9th December 2021, Rumbek Airport Hotel

"Mat ku yo yic ebeen buk Tɔŋ Nyaai / Cuɔp-ror"

"Together let us unite against violence"

RESOLUTIONS

We, the youth leaders, women representatives, elders, intellectuals, Commissioners, MPs and members of State Cabinet;

aware of the fact that cattle movements constitute one of the key conflict triggers among sections of our community;

appreciating and standing by security measures introduced by the Governor of Lakes State, H.E. Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor,

which has seen calm and peaceful stay across the State;

further appreciating the dedicated support by POF-Peace Canal in collaboration with Government of Lakes State and CAFOD & Trócaire in Partnership (CTP), which made the Internal Annual Cattle Migration Conference possible;

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

we have resolved today on 8th December, 2021 in Rumbek, the following resolutions;

1. No one is allowed to move to TOC with guns.

Chiefs must register and surrender all guns and report violators to the government.

Chiefs who condone evaders and other criminals will be held responsible by the State Government.

2. All stolen cattle must be returned to their rightful owners before movement of cattle camps to TOC.

3. All wanted criminals must be surrendered to government before movement to TOC.

4. Agaar cattle camps must not move to Belei areas, they must graze in Agaar TOC to prevent skirmishes that otherwise arise between pastoralists and farmers.

5. No cattle movement to any other far away place without approval of the government.

6. Anyone who may identify his stolen bull/cow is not allowed to take it by force, doing so amounts to a violation that is severely punishable by law.

7. Similar conferences need to be held in Yirol and Cueibet areas because cattle movements cause similar communal conflicts in those areas.

8. No section or individuals are allowed to occupy the following contested cattle camps; Aguoc, Gun, Marialbeek, Makuei and Alei.

9. Security forces need to be embedded in the TOC to ensure adherence to these resolutions and maintain peace and security throughout the dry season.

10. Orders and instructions by the Governor, whether written or spoken, must be respected and enforced.

11. All sections of Lakes State community must stick to peaceful means of resolving any differences that may arise and always seek government intervention.

12. All sections shall share common resources (water, pasture and fishing grounds) in TOC, Reel and Toc Manuer as the case may be.

13. Recovery and return of stolen property, payment of blood compensation and arrest of murderers and other criminal must continue as required by State security policy and the law.

14. Spiritual leader of Panyar section, uncle Machar Dhuol will perform the peace ritual so that all sections co-exist peacefully in the Toc.

15. Peace partners should continue supporting peace dialogues and other confidence building measures to heal and restore trust among former adversaries.

Neighboring communities of Rumbek North, Rumbek Centre and Cueibet county need to be reached as soon as possible.

16. Peace education is to be introduced in all schools.

17. Youth who continue to misbehave must be apprehended immediately and if they resist, local authorities shall ask for more forces until such criminals are brought to book.

18. Resettlement of communities to their original lands must not be a pre-condition for peace and reconciliation.

19. Youth are still consuming alcohol, security forces should arrest anyone found drunk without warrant.

20. The current freedom of movement must continue and all stakeholders are urged to ensure its maintenance in their respective areas.

21. Peace and development partners need to support affected communities with basic services such provision water, micro-business projects and vocational skills training to transform young people from conflict to peace.

22. Chiefs and Gelweng leaders shall move together with youth and stay in the Toc during the dry season to provide information's and early warning to leadership during the grazing period.

23. POF and other peace partners should support dissemination of these resolutions in the villages and cattle camps.

24. Those who may continue to practice cattle theft should be reported by their immediate community leaders or else they shall be considered to have condoned the crimes, which is punishable as far as these resolutions are concerned.

25. Those charged with implementation of government policies (security officers, administrators and members of Special Courts) need to be supervised by their immediate managers to detect any deviation or conflict of interest in the performance of his/her duties e.g. favoritism, bribery, high fines and court fees.

26. Hate speech in public meeting must be a punishable offence since most of the conflicts in Lakes State were being incited through public (peace and security) meeting.

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

The committee composition shall be as follows:

Internal Cattle Migration Monitoring Committee;

1. Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies.

2. Minister of Peacebuilding

3. Commissioner of Rumbek Centre County.

4. Commissioner of Rumbek East County.

5. Commissioner of Rumbek North County.

6. Commissioner of Wulu County.

7. Paramount Chief of Rumbek Centre County.

8. Paramount Chief of Rumbek East County.

9. Paramount Chief of Rumbek North County.

10. Paramount Chief of Wulu County.

11. Head of Organized Forces.

12. Head of SSPDF.

13. Head of National Security.

14. Gelweng representative from Rumbek Centre.

15. Gelweng representative from Rumbek East.

16. Gelweng representative from Rumbek North.

Signatories:

1. Mabor Alir Cipuou-Nyuc

Head of chiefs, Rumbek Centre County

2. Jacob Det Aciek

Head of Chiefs, Rumbek East

3. Majak Malual Kodi

Head of chiefs, Rumbek Centre County County

4. Mathiang Ater Chier

Head of chief Rumbek North

5. Marial Maker Mabor

Head of chiefs, Rumbek East County

6. Deer Makuer Gol

Executive chief, Rumbek Centre County

7. Madeng Manyang Mangar

Executive chief, Rumbek East County

8. John Marial Dongrin

Executive Chief, Rumbek East County

9. Marik Lieny Malith

Executive chief, Rumbek North County

10. Guong Akoldit Ruoc

Executive chief, Rumbek Centre County

11. Hellena Aluel Alama, Women leader, Rumbek East County

12. Yar Matur Koriom, Women leader, Rumbek Centre County

13. Ayen Madit Majier, Women leader, Rumbek North County

14. Dhiim Mabeny Malual

Gelweng leader, Rumbek East County

15. Maliet Gumkok Ater

Gelweng leader, Rumbek North County

16. Matur Majak Makuer

Gelweng leader, Rumbek Centre County

Guarantors:

1. Hon.

Poth Madit Dut,

Acting Governor of Lakes State-Rumbek

2. Hon.

Benjamin Makuer Mabor

Minister of Local Government and

Law Enforcement Agencies

2. Hon Beny Matur Mathiang

Minister of Peacebuilding

WITNESSES:

Khalil Farah, UNMISS-CAD Rumbek

Rob Lancaster, Program Manager Peace Canal/POF Rumbek

2nd Annual Dinka Agaar Internal Cattle Migration Conference

Local agreement properties

Local issues

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