Civil and Military Dialogue

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Civil and Military Dialogue
Date: 24 May 2023
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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
Parties: Signed by the community of Yei River county:

Rose Kasa Alfred - Women Representative

Asiki Moses Justin - Youth Representative

Lt. Col Matur Apac Manguak - Chief for Administration, SSPDF

Rt. Rev. Emeritus, Hillary Adeba - Bishop, ECSS Diocese of Yei

Joseph Brown Lo Mose - Paramount Chief

Gale Ezbon Simon - Executive Director

Putia Moses Buya - Project Manager, Representative of CEPО
Third parties: -
Description: A local civil-military dialogue which is part of structured local approaches to managing cycles of violence, improving trust and social cohesion between communities and the military. This short agreement attempts to address ongoing civic grievances, violence and past acts of crime between civilians and the military in Yei River county. Substantively the agreement provides for reporting mechanisms of crimes and grievances for civilians through police and traditional leaders, as well as management of local military forces and ongoing dialogues in the community led by both local chiefs and the military. Local chiefs and traditional leaders are central as part of monitoring, reporting and managing reconciliation, as well as efforts for better communication and reduced false allegations within the community. Local Peace Committees support these local authority mechanisms.

Agreement document: SS_230524_Civil and Military Dialogue (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Source of document: https://www.onecitizendaily.com/index.php/2023/05/25/civil-military-dialogue-kicks-off-in-yei/

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: Rose Kasa Alfred – Women Representative
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: 4. soldiers should be given leave to go and check on their families.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: 2. the role of the church should be respected.
6. in case of shorteh of food, the commanders should go to the chiefs to request for help.
7. civilian disputes / grievances should be reported to the chiefs or police.
Public administration: 2. Both civil servants and soldiers should be adequately pain in time.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: 3. Free range grazing system of animals should be stopped.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: 1. Reduction in the number of checkpoints by the soldiers.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: 7. civilian disputes / grievances should be reported to the chiefs or police.
Armed forces: 3. soldiers should not stay in the same army garrison for more than six months.
4. soldiers should be given leave to go and check on their families.
1. Reduction in the number of checkpoints by the soldiers.
5. Extension of civil -military dialogues to the grassroots (Boma leve).
6. Food should be given to the soldiers in time.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.

Civil and Military Dialogue - Held on 23rd - 24th May 2023 at ECSS Guest House in Yei

Preamble

We, the delegates of the civilians and the military convened for a two days joint civil - military dialogue from 23rd - 24th/May/2023 in

Yei Rive County at the ECSS Guest House;

with support from CEPO, IOM and UNMISS Rule of law and with facilitation from the

religious leaders;

Hereby committed to restore peace, harmony and social cohesion between the civilians and the military in Yei River County;

Do hereby comes up with the following resolutions and the recommendations:-

Note:

The following text has been extracted from the table in the document.

For the full Table, refer to PDF document.

Resolutions (a)

1. Respect to both soldiers and civilians.

2. the role of the church should be respected.

3. soldiers should not stay in the same army garrison for more than six months.

4. soldiers should be given leave to go and check on their families.

5. false allegations should be minimise.

6. in case of shorteh of food, the commanders should go to the chiefs to request for help.

7. civilian disputes / grievances should be reported to the chiefs or police.

Recommendations (b)

1. Reduction in the number of checkpoints by the soldiers.

2. Both civil servants and soldiers should be adequately pain in time.

3. Free range grazing system of animals should be stopped.

4. Establishment of military hospitals.

5. Extension of civil -military dialogues to the grassroots (Boma leve).

6. Food should be given to the soldiers in time.

Rose Kasa Alfred – Women Representative

Asiki Moses Justin – Youth Representative

Lt. Col Matur Apac Manguak – Chief for Administration, SSPDF

Rt. Rev. Emeritus, Hillary Adeba – Bishop, ECSS Diocese of Yei

Joseph Brown Lo Mose – Paramount Chief

Gale Ezbon Simon – Executive Director

Putia Moses Buya – Project Manager, Representative