S. Sudan’s Yambio conference on inter-tribal fighting ends works

April 25, 2006 (YAMBIO, Southern Sudan) — The Yambio Peace and Reconciliation Conference ( 19th – 24th April 2006) which brought together participants from the four neighbouring and common bordering states of Western Equatoria, Bahr el Ghazal, Warab and Lakes, ended on Saturday 23rd April in Yambio with a big ceremony attended by UN Special Envoy to the Sudan, Jan Pronk.

The conference agreed to repatriate internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original homes. It was also decided to form joints committees to solve intra-tribal conflicts within and between States.

The conference talked the insecurity generated by the presence of the Ugandan rebel LRA and the Amboror of Nigeria. The Southern Sudan government was urged to negotiate with the concerned countries (Uganda, Congo, Nigeria) the best ways for their return to their respective countries.

During the closing ceremony the hosting Governor of Western Equatoria State Col. Patrick Zomai presented the UN Envoy with a special gift, a photographic portrait of Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, 1st Vice President of Sudan and President of GOSS. On his part the UN envoy, Jan Pronk accepted the gift on behalf of the UN Secretary General and then he went to thank the Governor for the special gift which he said would be displayed at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The UN envoy further said that it was the first portrait of Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit the UN have received and he really appreciated this very much. The UN envoy further thanked the participants for signing a covenant to strive to attain peace across the four neighbouring states.

Also on Sunday 24th April 2006, the Peace and Reconciliation conference delegates attended a concluding Ecumenical prayer for Peace and Reconciliation in the region of the four states and throughout the South Sudan and the prayers was attended by most of the delegates to the Peace Conference as well as Church leaders like Archbishop Paolino Lukudu (who attended the Peace Conference also), other Bishops, Church elders and dignitaries.

As with regards to the Conference itself, it was very successfully with the participants signing a covenant binding all the four states to do their utmost to prevent ethnic and tribal clashes or violence moving across their borders and resolving to address the current tension and ethnic clashes in Western Equatoria State.

A comprehensive report of the Peace and Reconciling Conference is being prepared and will be released in due course by the Conference Secretariat. Attached below are the conference resolutions.

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THE INTER-STATE (WESTERN EQUATORIA, CENTRAL EQUATORIA, WESTERN BAHR EL GHAZAL, WARRAP, AND LAKES STATES)
PEACE AND RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE

[Theme: Building Bridges for Peace among Tribes in Southern Sudan]

Preamble

In a dialogue conference on peace and reconciliation facilitated by the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) in collaboration with the Government of Western Equatoria State and with aid of our partners, CAFOD/SCBRC, Christian Aid, MCC, ICCO, CEAS, and UNMIS, in Yambio, Western Equatoria State from 19th 24th April 2006, the participants from Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Warrap, Lakes and Western Bahr el Ghazal States have acknowledged that there have been conflicts and misunderstandings among the community members of these states over the following issues.

The Issues

1. Internally displaced populations (some are seasonally displaced people)
– Reasons for displacement
i- Lack of adequate resources/basic services
ii- Inter-tribal conflicts in other areas
2. Destruction of the environment, means of livelihood and water points

3. Culture clashes/lack of cultural awareness between displaced and host communities

– Difference in practices (e.g., different uses of water lead to poisoning of cattle)
– Aggressiveness
– Different expectations for the way land is used
– Lack of respect for local leadership
– Renaming of places and communities
– Forced marriages
– Abduction of women and children

4. Invasion by foreign armed groups (e.g., Ambororo,(Arabs herdsmen) LRA)

5. Unclear State administrative boundaries and land occupation

6. Widespread possession of small fire arms

7. Insecurity

– Lack of respect for local authorities and enforcement of laws
– People not brought to justice
– Killings
– Looting, destruction of property
– Rape

7. Tribalism/territorialism

– Disharmony among different people groups
– Ethnic identities

9. Misunderstanding of decentralization policy

Recommendations and Resolutions

After lengthy deliberation on the above issues the following recommendations and resolutions were unanimously adopted by representatives of five mentioned states:

Internally displaced populations (some are seasonally displaced people)

1. Repatriation and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original homes Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), State governments and UNHCR

2. Provision of basic services both for human beings (schools, health centers, water points) and livestock (water points, sources and catchment; land grazing systems) United Nations (UN) and NGOs, Churches and State governments

3. Development of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between State governments to regulate seasonal movement of cattle and to establish border markets for sale of cattle State governments

4. Formation of joint committees to solve inter- and intra-tribal conflicts within and between States

Destruction of the environment, means of livelihood and water points

1. Environmental awareness and training for pastoralist and agriculturalist communities UN and NGOs, Churches and GOSS

2. Reforestation activities – partnership between State governments and local communities

3. Transformation of social use of cattle by encouraging the private sector to invest in meat and dairy industries in pastoralist areas

Culture clashes/lack of cultural awareness between displaced and host communities (difference in practices of resource use, aggressiveness, different expectations for the way land is used, lack of respect for local leadership, renaming of places and communities, forced marriages, abduction of women and children

1. Cultural awareness fostered between communities so that one culture is not imposed on another

2. Cultural orientation through socio-cultural awareness training, civic education and exchange visits of community leaders and youth – governments, Churches, UN, NGOs.

3. Trauma healing and human rights education – governments, Churches, UN, NGOs.

4. Prosecution of abductors and those practicing forced marriages

5. Identification and immediate return of abducted women and children

Invasion by foreign armed groups (e.g., LRA, Ambororo)

1. Immediate negotiations with neighboring countries (e.g., Uganda, Congo, Nigeria) regarding LRA and Ambororo for their return back to their respective countries GOSS, State government

Unclear State boundaries and land occupation

1. Clear demarcation of State and regional boundaries – GOSS

2. Development of a clear policy regarding return of occupied houses and lands to their rightful owners – GOSS

Widespread possession of small fire arms

1. A compulsive, coordinated, comprehensive disarmament of the civil population throughout Southern Sudan undertaken by GOSS

2. Development of a policy regarding legal civilian possession of small arms – GOSS

3. Development of a system for monitoring movement of arms through porous borders – Government

Insecurity (lack of respect for and enforcement of laws, people not brought to justice, killings, looting, destruction of property, rape)

1. Capacity building of all levels of the law enforcement system so that it functions effectively, efficiently and within the bounds of human rights GOSS, UN, civil society groups, Church

2. Improvement of roads to facilitate easy access to conflict areas GOSS, State government, UN, civil society, local communities

Tribalism/territorialism (disharmony among different people groups, ethnic identities)

1. Civic education (including education about the CPA, constitution, human rights, good governance, and electoral procedures) GOSS/SPLM, UN, NGOs, Church

2. Cultural exchanges and other activities (e.g., youth tournaments, games, clubs, peace education) that bring ethnic groups together, leading to the development of respect for different ethnic identities and fostering a culture of peace facilitated by the Church and civil society

Misunderstanding of decentralization policy

1. A campaign to carry out awareness among citizens about the CPA, interim constitution of GOSS and interim State constitutions using various media GOSS, State governments, UN, Churches

2. Translation of the above documents into the local languages facilitated by GOSS, UN, civil societies

Follow-up, Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Formation of Peace Councils and Security Committees with clear Terms of Reference and adequate resources for facilitating and/or carrying out the implementation of the above resolutions and recommendations in collaboration with Churches, UN, NGOs, GOSS and State governments.

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