Peace Agreements Database

Country/entity

South Sudan

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

Lou Nuer-Dinka Bor-Murle Action for Peace, Jonglei State

Date

25/03/2021

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

No

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.

Sudan Conflicts (1955 - ) )

Stage

Framework/substantive - partial (Multiple issues)

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

151: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements

Parties

Liyliy Yieh Chan - Lou Nuer Youth Leaders' Representative
Kangach Chiok Deng - Lou Nuer Paramount Chiefs' Representative
Mary Nyapet Puok - Lou Nuer Women's Representative
Alek Many - Dinka Bor Youth Leaders' Representative
Malak Ayuen Mayen + Dinka Bor Paramount Chiefs’ Represenative
Alek Manyuon Deng – Dinka Bor Women’s Representative
Turyal Peluk Oleyo – Murle Youth Leaders’ Representative
Nyathiko Gola Labarech – Murle Paramount Chiefs’ Representative
Mary Beri Oleyeo – Murle Women’s Representative

Third parties

Page 5:
Guaranteed by 

Gok Deng Dak Kueth Deng 

Spiritual leader

... 

The facilitation of the Conference was supported by UK Aid, USAID and UNMISS

Description

This local agreement aims to resolve the violent conflict between the Lou Nuer, Dinka Bor,and Murle groups in Jonglei, South Sudan. The violence among these groups resulted in deaths, abductions of women and children, cattle theft. This agreement is the result of wide inter-communal talks, which included the chiefs, women's groups and youth groups, and which were supported by Gok Deng Dak Kueth Deng (Spiritual leader) and facilitated by UK Aid, USAID and UNMISS. In the agreement, the communities pledge to support peace efforts, and develop modalities for punishment of perpetrators, return of abducted women and children, and return of stolen cattle.

Agreement document

SS_210324 Dinka Bor Murle Agreement.pdf []

Main category

Page 1:
Preamble
We, representatives of youth leaders, traditional leaders, and women from the Dinka Bor, Murle and Lou Nuer communities;
Aware that the current conflict has caused deep and prolonged suffering in all our communities, particularly affecting women and children;

Page 2:
Resolutions
1. Regarding abducted children and women
1.1. Youth leaders are the ones to lead the collection of abducted children.
1.2. Women have committed to participate in the child identification and recovery effort.
1.3. Collection will be done in close collaboration with chiefs and local authorities in the areas. If someone refuses to surrender a child, the government can intervene.
1.4. The Conference agrees that the reunification process will be ongoing, beginning with the exchange of all the women and children currently held in Pibor and Pieri.
1.5. The Conference requests construction of transitional centres for children in Pieri, Pibor and Bor Town that include provision for incoming and outgoing abductees. This may be extended to Akobo East and possible other centres.
1.6. NGOs are requested to support with the construction and services of the transitional centres and with transporting of the women and children.
1.7. Youth leaders and chiefs, as necessary, are to travel between communities during the collection of abducted children so as to help the tracing process.
1.8. Reunification of children is to be undertaken as soon as practicable in order that communities build trust and confidence in the peace process, also to encourage perpetrators and communities to surrender the remaining children.
1.9. Final verification can be completed through the transitional centres.
1.10. In more complicated cases, for example women who were abducted and have become mothers, will first be returned and if there is a marriage request the case can be picked up from their community of origin.
1.11. Women demanded that they be included in all steps of these processes.

Page 3-4:
5. Regarding the dissemination of the Peace
5.4. The women have underlined the importance of peace and reconciliation, love and forgiveness, and praying to God together for mercy and grace. Women will return and commit to warning their sons to stop raiding other communities. If a problem persists, they have warned they will milk out the milk from their breasts to the floor as a curse to the young men who have violated the peace.
5.5. Women from the three communities must stand up to ensure that this peace is holding, particularly through advocacy and moving between locations, talking to people. Women must unite, regardless of their tribe. They should be provided with communication tools, as well as the men. Women have requested radio talk shows to publicise the message of peace among the three tribes; to be known nationwide, regionally, and globally.
5.6. Women propose the formation of a Women's Peace Committee, and three (one from each community) appointed as an initial Steering Committee. They request being given a uniform of the same colour and this committee is the one to move from Dinka Bor to Murle to Lou Nuer as a Committee that preaches peace. If the women are together in a location, youth may also fear to attack.
5.7. Women will encourage inter-marriages between the three tribes; they are the guardians of the daughters.

Page 4:
6. Regarding measures to strengthen development
...
6.1.2. Women request equitable provision of tailoring machines, soap making and other activities for women.
6.1.3. The Conference, and women in particular, repeated the proposal for a tri-communal boarding school to be established in the border areas, for confidence and trust building. The Conference also proposed the introduction of Pastoralist Education schemes.
6.1.4. Women request for micro-finance schemes for youth in order for them to improve livelihoods.
...
6.1.8. Women have proposed the establishment of business centres and cooperatives for women of the three communities in different locations across the Greater Jonglei.

Page 5:
Signed 
...
Mary Nyapet Puok - Lou Nuer Women's Representative 
...
Alek Manyuon Deng – Dinka Bor Women’s Representative 
...
Mary Beri Oleyeo – Murle Women’s Representative 

Women, girls and gender

Participation

Effective participation

Page 2:
Resolutions
1 . Regarding abducted children and women
...
1 .2. Women have committed to participate in the child identification and recovery effort.
...
1 .1 1 . Women demanded that they be included in all steps of these processes.

Equality

No specific mention.

Particular groups of women

Pregnancy/maternity

Page 2:
Resolutions
1 . Regarding abducted children and women
...
1 .1 0. In more complicated cases, for example women who were abducted and have become mothers, will first be returned and if there is a marriage request the case can be picked up from their community of origin.
1 .1 1 . Women demanded that they be included in all steps of these processes.

International law

No specific mention.

New institutions

No specific mention.

Violence against women

Gender-based violence/VAW (general)

Page 2:
Resolutions
1 . Regarding abducted children and women
1 .1 . Youth leaders are the ones to lead the collection of abducted children.
1 .2. Women have committed to participate in the child identification and recovery effort.
1 .3. Collection will be done in close collaboration with chiefs and local authorities in the areas. If someone refuses to surrender a child, the government can intervene.
1 .4. The Conference agrees that the reunification process will be ongoing, beginning with the exchange of all the women and children currently held in Pibor and Pieri.
1 .5. The Conference requests construction of transitional centres for children in Pieri, Pibor and Bor Town that include provision for incoming and outgoing abductees. This may be extended to Akobo East and possible other centres.
1 .6. NGOs are requested to support with the construction and services of the transitional centres and with transporting of the women and children.
1 .7. Youth leaders and chiefs, as necessary, are to travel between communities during the collection of abducted children so as to help the tracing process.
1 .8. Reunification of children is to be undertaken as soon as practicable in order that communities build trust and confidence in the peace process, also to encourage perpetrators and communities to surrender the remaining children.
1 .9. Final verification can be completed through the transitional centres.
1 .1 0. In more complicated cases, for example women who were abducted and have become mothers, will first be returned and if there is a marriage request the case can be picked up from their community of origin.
1 .1 1 . Women demanded that they be included in all steps of these processes.

Transitional justice

No specific mention.

Institutional reform

No specific mention.

Development

Rehabilitation and reconstruction

Page 4: 6. Regarding measures to strengthen development
...
6.1.2. Women request equitable provision of tailoring machines, soap making and other activities for women.
...
6.1.4. Women request for micro-finance schemes for youth in order for them to improve livelihoods.
...
6.1.8. Women have proposed the establishment of business centres and cooperatives for women of the three communities in different locations across the Greater Jonglei.

Education

Page 4:
6. Regarding measures to strengthen development
...
6.1.3. The Conference, and women in particular, repeated the proposal for a tri-communal boarding school to be established in the border areas, for confidence and trust building. The Conference also proposed the introduction of Pastoralist Education schemes.

Implementation

Women's role and consideration in implementation of the agreement

Page 3-4:
5. Regarding the dissemination of the Peace
5.4. The women have underlined the importance of peace and reconciliation, love and forgiveness, and praying to God together for mercy and grace. Women will return and commit to warning their sons to stop raiding other communities. If a problem persists, they have warned they will milk out the milk from their breasts to the floor as a curse to the young men who have violated the peace.
5.5. Women from the three communities must stand up to ensure that this peace is holding, particularly through advocacy and moving between locations, talking to people. Women must unite, regardless of their tribe. They should be provided with communication tools, as well as the men. Women have requested radio talk shows to publicise the message of peace among the three tribes; to be known nationwide, regionally, and globally.
5.6. Women propose the formation of a Women's Peace Committee, and three (one from each community) appointed as an initial Steering Committee. They request being given a uniform of the same colour and this committee is the one to move from Dinka Bor to Murle to Lou Nuer as a Committee that preaches peace. If the women are together in a location, youth may also fear to attack.
5.7. Women will encourage inter-marriages between the three tribes; they are the guardians of the daughters.

Signing or witnessing agreement

Page 5:
Signed
...
Mary Nyapet Puok - Lou Nuer Women's Representative
...
Alek Manyuon Deng – Dinka Bor Women’s Representative
...
Mary Beri Oleyeo – Murle Women’s Representative

Other

No specific mention.