Jonglei’s Greater Akobo area holds peace conference

May 23, 2012 (BOR) – The three counties of Greater Akobo in Jonglei State are holding a political reconciliation conference in Bor town the capital of Jonglei State after serious violence earlier this year.

A series of peace conferences have taken place in South Sudan’s largest state since a disarmament campaign in March and April attempted to reduce violence between and within Jonglei’s ethnic groups.

A six-week disarmament campaign, which was carried out before the peace and political process began, was only a partial success with some groups avoiding the army by crossing into Ethiopia or hiding in the bush.

Speaking during the opening session, South Sudan’s Minister of Justice John Luke said the aim of the peace conference is to “iron out our political differences” within greater Akobo, which comprises of by Uror, Nyirol and Akobo counties.

The conference will also provide further opportunity to discuss how to implement the peace document signed earlier this month by Jonglei’s six main ethnic groups.

Luke said that all leaders from greater Akobo should interact with others “to promote peace” at all levels and to stop all “negative attitudes”.

The high number of deaths in Jonglei were not the responsibility of the governor alone, he said, encouraging all people from the area to “work for the betterment of our state.”

Over 140,000 people have been affected by violence in Jonglei, according to the UN, which erupted in December and January after previous peaks in August and June last year.

Peace and security comes through the people themselves, he said. The violence in Jonglei has mainly been through cattle raids, looting and abductions between the Murle, who are based in Pibor County, and the Luo Nuer.

The conference was attended by large numbers of the Lou Nuer tribe, as well as Jonglei governor Kuol Manyang Juuk.

Tribalism

The governor welcomed the initiative, urging people to be united as South Sudanese. South Sudan is less than a year old, having seceded from Sudan last year.

However, Manyang acknowledge that regionalism and tribalism were still pervasive in South Sudan. People should embrace their nationality rather than focus on their differences, he said.

South Sudan had not fought for over two decades, in a war that cost two million lives and displaced four million, only to fight among themselves once independence was achieved, according to the governor.

“For how long will we stay as tribes?”, he asked.

South Sudan would not be a united country as long as people hold onto their tribal identities, he said.

Kuol also criticised the nepotism that is rife in South Sudan, with many officials securing jobs for their relatives. All people should be treated equally, he said.

The governor also accused some officials of loaning businessmen money that had not been repaid.

Peace in Jonglei

People in Jonglei overwhelmingly wanted peace, he said, adding that the army was pursuing criminals and those who had not been disarmed.

“To fight robbery and cattle raiding and child abduction”, he said, “we have to get more farms and agricultural production. We must reinforce this recent peace by doing development and imposing security straight upon them.”

Manyang gave the example of two agricultural projects in Waat and Werkok of how government-backed projects can help people earn a living if people avoid political differences.

“There is nothing difficult if we are together” he noted.

Manyang encouraged citizens to forgive each other for previous fighting and reconcile their differences.

“We are all Christians – let us reconcile.” Political differences can be resolved, even after elections when some loose and some win he added, perhaps in reference to the rebel groups that sprung up after elections in April 2010.

Khartoum’s hand

South Sudan’s minister of Information Barnaba Marial Benjamin told the conference that the people of Jonglei should be “united” to address the challenges of education, health, and what development which will bring long term peace.

Khartoum was attempting to use the Nuer and other groups to destabilise South Sudan, Marial said. This would be countered by “good roads, clinic, education and health”, he said.

“Peace is important, if we are united we will defeat Khartoum and if we have different our Khartoum enemy will defeat us. Let us work together in order to uplift our country.”

Sudan and South Sudan accuse the other of backing rebels in their territory. Both countries deny the allegation.

“There are 12 church leaders among us here, so we believe we believers. So we are religious people and morally we are strong. Let us be the central of peace in South Sudan. Jonglei is that largest state and it is very backward, let us uplifted our state.”

Agriculture & Education

Manyang encouraged Jonglei’s civilians to use the arable land more productively, especially considering the food crisis in South Sudan. Cattle raiding was not an option, he said, urging people to use their brains, hands and land God had given them.

The “government is present to provide you with tractors and factory to
work”, he said. Insecurity in Jonglei’s rural areas has meant that many have not returned to their areas fearing further insecurity.

Education is the priority for the state, the governor said, but observed that those who do get an education often look for work in the capital Juba and “refuse to go back home”.

(ST)