Annual Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Annual Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States
Date: 15 Dec 2022
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: Western Bahr el Ghazal State (Delegates):
William Deng Kuol, Chief, WBEGS;
Madut Lual, Farmer, WBEGS;
Josephine Stephen, Women Rep, WBEGS;

Warrap State (Delegates):
Agol Adim Adim, Chief, Warrap;
Akeen Aleu Ngor, Mijak-Wut, Warrap;
Awal Akek Aguer, Women Rep., Warrap;

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State (Observers):
Ajieber Malong Deng, Chief, NBEGS;
Garang Agiu Majok, Youth, NBEGS;
Abuk Azeber, Women Rep., NBEGS.
Third parties: Hon. Ibrahim Surur Ibrahim, State Minister of Local Government, Western Nahr el Ghazal State; Hon. William Deng Koor, State Minister of Local Government, Warrap State; Hon. Deng Liai Bak, State Minister of Local Government, Law Enforcement, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State; Mr. Sam K. Muhumure, UNMISS Head of Field Office, Western Bahr el Ghazal State; Ms. Lucia Bassa, UNDP Representative, Warrap State; Mr. Stephen Robo Musa, Co-Coordinator, Peace Building and Reconciliation Working Group (PRWG); Mr Andrea Mawien Akok, Chairman, ICCCSM.
Description: Cattle owners, farmers, and members of the Inter-State Coordinating Committee for Cattle Seasonal Movement met in Wau, Bahr el Ghazal, to discuss cattle-related issues in the area.

Agreement document: SS_221215_Annual Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference, Western Bahr el Ghazal (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: The annual conference is a structured process intended to address the conflicts emerging from the annual movement of cattle between the concerned states in South Sudan. The Marial Bai Agreement in 2016 sought to bring an end to these clashes, and subsequent conferences such as the present one have sought to maintain the peace and address grievances related to cattle movement between the states.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: Neither the text of the agreement nor the list of parties indicate any link to a national peace process.
Name of Locale: Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Warrap State and Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 7.699340, 28.002800
Participant type: Local state actor
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references)
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Regional state actor Local state actor International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): Preamble:
...
Considered the concern of delegates from Jur River County in areas of opposition (SPLA-IO) that all cattle keepers planning to move to their areas must ensure that all requirements by the Revised Marial Bai agreement are adhered to in letter and spirit and call upon chiefs of Warrap to visit areas of IO (Wadhelelo) to initiate blood rituals;
Grievance List: Preamble:
...
Acknowledged the opinion of the delegates from Wau County on non-acceptance of the seasonal cattle movement in their area and committed to respect this opinion.
...
Noting with concerns all the reported continuous violations during the grassroot consultations in both WBeG and Warrap States and calling upon the Inter State Coordination Committee on Cattle Seasonal Movement (ICCCSM) and other mechanisms to ensure violators are held accountable in accordance with Marial Bai Agreement resolutions;
Alarmed by the continuous report of unauthorized persons (cattle keepers & farmers) carrying firearms in total violation of the Marial Bai Agreement and bringing about mistrust among communities;
...
Concern with interference into community peace and security by the current situation and urging the Revitalized Government of National Unity to speed up implementation of the security arrangement by speedy development of the recent graduated unification of forces and commence the second phase of training;
...
Aware of the ICCCSM acknowledgement of the support given by partners in the year 2021/2022 and noted the financial constraints experienced by the Inter-State Coordination Committee for Cattle Seasonal Movement (ICCCSM), the delegates appealed to the states authorities to provide support to the mechanisms to enable them to effectively carryout their mandates;
Concern with presence of local cattle within Wau Municipality causing destruction of farms around Wau town and beyond, the delegates further call upon the Wau Municipal Council to regulate these cattle under the provisions of the revised MBA and issue local order to complement the provisions of Revised MBA;
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

ANNUAL PRE-SEASONAL CATTLE MOVEMENT CONFERENCE

WESTERN BAHR EL GHAZAL, NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL AND WARRAP STATES 2022

COMMUNIQUE:

Date:

15th December 2022

Preamble:

We, the delegates of the Annual Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference comprising of members of cattle keepers from Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states, farmers from WBeGS, members of Inter-State Coordinating Committee for Cattle Seasonal Movement (ICCCSM), guided by the governments of the three (3) states (Ministries of Local government and Law Enforcement Agencies) and Partners met between 13th-15th December 2022 in Wau town, at State Council of Ministers under the theme:

"Strengthening Cattle Seasonal Movement and Social Cohesion", deliberated on how to maintain security and stability through the implementation of Marial Bai Agreement to have peaceful cattle seasonal movement in 2023 and beyond.

Recognized the common heritage of the people of Bahr el Ghazal, the delegates welcomed the participation of the delegates from Northern Bahr el Ghazal to join this joint adventure to ensure peace and stability prevails in our region;

Acknowledged the opinion of the delegates from Wau County on non-acceptance of the seasonal cattle movement in their area and committed to respect this opinion.

However, the delegates from Wau County requested more time to debate on the issue and reconsider their position and rejoin the Marial Bai Agreement under a new terms;

Building on our joint interests to protect our resources, the Governments of Western Bahr el-Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap supporting the communities of cattle keepers and the farmers across the three states held an Annual Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference to dialogue on how to strengthen the cattle seasonal movement annually;

Cognizant of our responsibilities to maintain and enhance security and protection of both resources (animals and crops) and our citizens in Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States;

Determined to work together as communities that coexist peacefully by implementing the provisions of Revised Marial Bai Agreement in letter and Spirit for the good of our people in the three states;

Considered the concern of delegates from Jur River County in areas of opposition (SPLA-IO) that all cattle keepers planning to move to their areas must ensure that all requirements by the Revised Marial Bai agreement are adhered to in letter and spirit and call upon chiefs of Warrap to visit areas of IO (Wadhelelo) to initiate blood rituals;

Reaffirmed our commitment for peaceful coexistence and stability in our communities and take dialogue as the only means to resolve our differences;

Mindful that the Annual Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference 2022 presents both challenges and opportunities for the cattle keepers and the farmers to dialogue and to effectively contribute to building sustainable peace across the two states and recognizing opportunities that safe spaces create to foster coordination and cooperation among the three communities to coexist peacefully.

Applauding the role being played by state authorities of the three states WBeG, NBeG, and Warrap, UNMISS, partners including members of Peace Building and Reconciliation Working Group (PRWG) in facilitating the communities of the three states to have space for dialogue and deliberation on some sticking issues within the Marial Bai Agreement and the process of the annual cattle seasonal movement;

The conference notes with great appreciation the consequential support of the UN family to the overall peace, reconciliation, justice, and accountability agenda in the three states and calls for sustained support going into immediate future to safeguard and secure gains realized in 2021 and 2022 period and address critical outstanding challenges;

Noting with concerns all the reported continuous violations during the grassroot consultations in both WBeG and Warrap States and calling upon the Inter State Coordination Committee on Cattle Seasonal Movement (ICCCSM) and other mechanisms to ensure violators are held accountable in accordance with Marial Bai Agreement resolutions;

Alarmed by the continuous report of unauthorized persons (cattle keepers & farmers) carrying firearms in total violation of the Marial Bai Agreement and bringing about mistrust among communities;

Calling upon the authorities of the three states to take charge of collecting the firearms from civilians using different strategies instead of open declaration of the exercise;

Urging the authorities of WBeG/NBeG/Warrap/UNMISS and other partners to facilitate the strengthening of the capacities of local committees to be more responsive and ensure the current Revised Marial Bai Agreement (R-MBA) structures (committees) reach the grassroot communities with the mobility given to them by partners;

Concern with interference into community peace and security by the current situation and urging the Revitalized Government of National Unity to speed up implementation of the security arrangement by speedy development of the recent graduated unification of forces and commence the second phase of training;

Calling on all political parties to refrain from politicizing the Marial-Bai agreement a political mileage to allow communities take charge of the implementation of the agreement and request all relevant authorities to help the communities with effective implementation;

Calling upon the government and other stakeholders to strengthen operationalization of the Joint Mobile/Special court for trial of some imminent cases arising from the cattle related issues among the communities, which will contribute immensely to fighting impunity and further recognize legal accountability to foster reconciliation to deter future crimes and potential offenders within the three communities;

Calling upon the states authorities and urged them to recommit to their task of 2021 communique to speedily form and deploy the joint integrated police force (special unit) along cattle seasonal movement's routes to monitor the movements of the cattle and arrest any cattle related conflict that may arise due to violations of the Marial Bai Agreement;

Aware of the ICCCSM acknowledgement of the support given by partners in the year 2021/2022 and noted the financial constraints experienced by the Inter-State Coordination Committee for Cattle Seasonal Movement (ICCCSM), the delegates appealed to the states authorities to provide support to the mechanisms to enable them to effectively carryout their mandates;

Concern with presence of local cattle within Wau Municipality causing destruction of farms around Wau town and beyond, the delegates further call upon the Wau Municipal Council to regulate these cattle under the provisions of the revised MBA and issue local order to complement the provisions of Revised MBA;

Confirmed the conference have confirmed the revised compensation rate/list of 2019 by multiplying all the prices on the compensation matrix by two, the compensation in kind remained the same and recommend comprehensive review of Marial Bai Agreement in the next year's Annual Conference.

Considering the gender balance into the Marial Bai Agreement structures by adding 2 women into the membership of all the 3 structures;

Hereby append our signatures to the final communique of the Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference as below:

Signature:

Signed by participants of the two states and witnessed by peace partners in Wau Town, Western Bahr el Ghazal State on this 15th Day of December 2022:

Western Bahr el Ghazal State (Delegates):

1. WILLIAM DENG KUOL | CHIEF | WBEGS

2. MADUT LUAL | FARMER | WBEGS

3. JOSEPHINE STEPHEN | WOMEN REP | WBEGS

Warrap State (Delegates):

1. AGOL ADIM ADIM | CHIEF | WARRAP

2. AKEEN ALEU NGOR | MIJAK-WUT | WARRAP

3. AWAL AKEK AGUER | WOMEN REP.

| WARRAP

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State (Observers):

1. AJIEBER MALONG DENG | CHIEF | NBEGS

2. GARANG AGIU MAJOK | YOUTH | NBEGS

3. ABUK AZEBER | WOMAN REP.

| NBEGS

Witnesses:

Hon. Ibrahim Surur Ibrahim

State Minister of Local Government

Western Bahr el Ghazal State

Date:

15th Dec 2022

Hon. William Deng Koor

State Minister of Local Government

Warrap State

Date:

15th Dec 2022

Hon. Deng Liai Bak

State Minister of Local Government, Law Enforcement

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State

Date:

15/12/2022

Mr. Sam K. Muhumure

UNMISS Head of Field Office

Western Bahr el Ghazal State

Date:

15/12/22

Ms. Lucia Bassa

UNDP Representative

Warrap State

Date:

15/12/2022

Mr. Stephen Robo Musa

Co-Coordinator

Peace Building & Reconciliation

Working Group (PRWG)

Date:

15/12/2022

Mr. Andrea Mawien Akok

Chairman

ICCCSM

Date:

15/12/2022

Annual Pre-Seasonal Cattle Movement Conference, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States

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