Laarim and Didinga Intercommunal Peace Dialogue: Resolutions & Recommendations

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Laarim and Didinga Intercommunal Peace Dialogue: Resolutions & Recommendations
Date: 13 Mar 2024
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: Not signed, agreement mentions the following parties as having produced it: The Didinga and Laarim communities.
Third parties: -
Description: The Didinga and Laarim communities met to discuss the issue of cattle thefts and establish mechanisms for justice.

Agreement document: SS_240313_Laarim and Didinga Intercommununal Peace Dialogue_Resolutions & Recommendations (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: The agreement appears to be linked to UNMISS-facilitated peace dialogues covering communities in Budi including the Didinga: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/unmiss-convenes-community-dialogue-to-end-cattle-related-conflict-kidepo-valley This article is on 12 April 2024, and the local agreement is 10-13 March 2024. It does imply that the agreement forms part of a broader set of local community dialogues in the region organised by UNMISS. Although the link is not made explicitly in the article, and the peace agreement does not reference UNMISS, the agreement relates to similar issues and in the same area as the UNMISS peace dialogues, and includes one of the groups referenced in the local peace agreement at around the same time. Therefore, on balance coded as part of a formal structured process.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement does not made any reference to a national-level process, and review of secondary sources do not reveal any link either.
Name of Locale: Budi County
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 4.602350, 33.387700
Participant type: Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): 10. This peace dialogue should be cemented with a ritual of killing of two white bulls at a tamarine tree in Ngalam.
Chief Peter Lotee of Faraksika Boma and Chief Joseph Lotiman (Lohijan) of Lohipor Boma are to contribute one bull each for the occasion.
The ritual celebration will be witnessed by National State MPs, the County Commissioner, the respective chiefs and the Catholic Diocese of Torit representative.
Grievance List: No specific mention.
Cattle rustling/banditry: 1. Community leaders, chiefs and Youth/Kraal leaders, should not protect or harbour criminals (both criminals from the locality and other villages) and stollen livestock.
...
Anyone complicit in livestock theft is a thief himself/herself and will be also punished.
Taking possession of strayed livestock and hiding them, is equal to theft and will be punished as livestock theft.
[4. This resolution applies to any recent livestock and murder case.
E.g. (5 cows, the 58 goats) and a gun should be returned to the rightful owners
...
The number of stolen animals must be proven by the chief and the village.
...
16. Penalties for livestock theft.
The following rules will government the livestock theft:
17. A person or persons who steal an animal for food will make a replacement of 5 animals - one animal to replaced the animal killed for food, two animals as an accrued fine, and two animals as a fine for the government.
18. For an that is stolen and reared, the penalty is 3 animals:
the stolen animal, one animal accrued as fine and one animal as a fine for the government.
The formula applies for more than one animal stolen.
E.g. if two animals are stolen, two animals as accrued fine and two animals as a fine for the government.
Total animals to be paid = 6 animals.
Social cover: 1. Community leaders, chiefs and Youth/Kraal leaders, should not protect or harbour criminals (both criminals from the locality and other villages) and stollen livestock.
...
15. Relatives or friends who defend a criminal automatically become criminals themselves.

LAARIM AND DIDINGA INTERCOMMUNAL PEACE DIALOGUE

RESOLUTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

We the Didinga and Laarim communities gathered for inter-communal peace dialogue at Faraksika from 10-13 March 2024 hereby unanimously resolved that:

1. Community leaders, chiefs and Youth/Kraal leaders, should not protect or harbour criminals (both criminals from the locality and other villages) and stollen livestock.

2. Should there be killing in any village, the youths/kraal leaders and the local chief investigate the case, arrest the culprit and hand to the government.

The case may be solved in a customary court if the parties agree.

3. Stolen Livestock should be investigated by the local chief and youths/kraal leaders and the culprit arrested and the case either settle locally by the chief or for gravier case the culprit is handed to the government.

Anyone complicit in livestock theft is a thief himself/herself and will be also punished.

Taking possession of strayed livestock and hiding them, is equal to theft and will be punished as livestock theft.

[4. This resolution applies to any recent livestock and murder case.

E.g. (5 cows, the 58 goats) and a gun should be returned to the rightful owners

5. Note:

The number of stolen animals must be proven by the chief and the village.

6. Any body who is assaulted or robbed in any village should report the case to the local chief who will investigate it and take appropriate measures.

7. If a thief is killed in action, there is no case.

But if a thief is subdued alive, he/she should be handed over to the government.

8. The Didinga who were forced to flee Loryok by insecurity in 2014, should return and reclaim their former plots or places.

The local county authorities, chiefs and youths will assist them to resettle.

9. It is an abomination for a Laarim to kill a Didinga and for a Didinga to kill a Laarim.

10. This peace dialogue should be cemented with a ritual of killing of two white bulls at a tamarine tree in Ngalam.

Chief Peter Lotee of Faraksika Boma and Chief Joseph Lotiman (Lohijan) of Lohipor Boma are to contribute one bull each for the occasion.

The ritual celebration will be witnessed by National State MPs, the County Commissioner, the respective chiefs and the Catholic Diocese of Torit representative.

11. The cattle of BUDI county are to graze anywhere in the county.

The movement of animals grazing spots will be coordinated and organized in collaboration and agreement with respective local youths and community leaders.

12. The youths/Kraal leaders and chiefs should ensure that animals are not driven into farms and no person should vandalize crops, bee hives or any other property when grazing the animals.

13. The chiefs and youths/Kraal leaders are to form peace committees to monitor any peace violation

14. The conflict between two villages or payams is not a conflict between the Laarim and the Didinga communities.

The case should be understood, treated and addressed as such.

15. Relatives or friends who defend a criminal automatically become criminals themselves.

16. Penalties for livestock theft.

The following rules will government the livestock theft:

17. A person or persons who steal an animal for food will make a replacement of 5 animals - one animal to replaced the animal killed for food, two animals as an accrued fine, and two animals as a fine for the government.

18. For an that is stolen and reared, the penalty is 3 animals:

the stolen animal, one animal accrued as fine and one animal as a fine for the government.

The formula applies for more than one animal stolen.

E.g. if two animals are stolen, two animals as accrued fine and two animals as a fine for the government.

Total animals to be paid = 6 animals.

19. Anyone present in this inter communal dialogue at Ngarrich (Faraksika) is a custodian of the agreed resolutions he/she should be a whistle blower

20. The chiefs, Kraal leaders and youths to form peace committees by end of March 2024

Recommendations:

1. The two communities Laarim and Didinga requests the Government to deploy security forces at Ngarera to maintain security and protect motorists and travellers

2. The two communities to start small- and large-scale businesses between Faraksika Camp 15 and Chukudum. E.g animals trade and other legal businesses.

3. The government should empower the chiefs with 5 or 6 armed RCS so that he/she can effectively enforce the law.

4. Ambush of motorists, travels or robbery along Budi County roads, is a crime.

In an event of an ambush or attack on, the county government in collaboration with a local chief and youths/kraal leaders will work together to identify and arrest the culprit and hand over to the government to face the law.

Laarim and Didinga Intercommunal Peace Dialogue: Resolutions & Recommendations

Local agreement properties

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