South Sudan women to mobilize communities against tribal fighting

December 20, 2009 — In early July of 2009, a group of Sudanese women living in Juba convened a meeting to discuss their role in the ongoing security problems in Southern Sudan. They wonder if as women they could do nothing to discourage conflicts in their communities.

Resulting from such meeting, these women agreed to initiate programmes with aim of persuading southern Sudanese communities to avert tribal conflicts and to instead give ways to developmental initiatives in rural communities. The women further resolved by forming a permanent body to guide in the implementation of their vision. Such body is now the Sudanese Women Network (SWN).

SWN is created to empower the marginalized rural women to have a meaningfully influence in their communities by participating in dialogues and peace initiatives aimed at bringing durable solutions to their communities. The stance of SWN is to positively influence the intellect of the rural women and men regarding the prevailing tribal attitudes that encourage cattle rustlings, undue killings, and child enslavement (abduction). SWN is urging rural women and men to condemn such criminal activities including the use of stolen cattle as dowries.

It was not long ago when SWN secured grant from the office of the FVP of Sudan and president of the government of Southern Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit. As soon as the network received such funding, SWN was able to translate its vision of empowering rural women into realities by planning a Peace Rally mission.

Since the network’s focus was to discourage tribal conflicts and cattle rustling, the first proposed SWN Peace Rally itinerary could not be in any other place than the Jonglei state. In November 2009, SWN sent a delegation of three women to Bor town to make consultation with concerned state ministries and various women organizations including the SPLM Women League. On December 8th, 2009, a group of fifteen (15) delegates departed Juba for Nyirol County. Instead of going directly to the intended destination which is Waat payam of Nyirol county, the team landed in Pieri Payam of Uror county, approximately 30 km west of Waat payam.

The fifteen (15) delegation led by Sophia Pal, the SPLM Secretary for Administration and Organization Southern Sector and board member of the SWN, is composed of:
– a senior government representative from the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
– two representatives from MatMedia Sudan;
– three Sudanese Musicians; and
– nine SWN representatives including Sophia.

The aim of this mission is to introduce the vision of SWN to women of greater Akobo counties, and to also mobilize and encourage the same to spread the vision of the SWN, which champions the empowerment of the marginalized rural women, to their neighbors. SWN believes that women are partners in peace and agents of change.

During the SWN’s three day visit, the team organized and held numerous Peace Rallies both in Pieri and Waat payams. These two communities were welcoming and receptive to the peace rally messages. The women of greater Akobo who attended these rallies have more than one reason to celebrate. First, the the idea of a Peace Rally was initiated by a women organization; and second, the Peace Rally delegations were led by a female figure. The greater Akobo women were aware of that and spoke openly about their excitement.

But the overall success owes credits to our national musicians that teamed up with the SWN. It was one of those rare occasions for the people of Uror, Nyirol and Akobo counties to receive a delegation that is composed of women, musicians and young independent reporters. The people of greater Akobo counties were very much excited by the team. It does not matter where we held our rallies, the sound of our musical instruments attracted countless number of people. In less than an hour, we would find our Peace Rally venue filled.

Of particular interest to the SWN’s Peace Rally was the intention made to scout local musical talents of the rural people. Like our own musicians, the traditional musicians were given the same opportunity to showcase their songs. This is done to assure them that their traditional music is as important as the modern music, and to also make SWN Peace Rally a place everyone belongs.

On December 10th, 2009–a day before the SWN team could return to Juba–the women of the greater Akobo were given the opportunity to deliberate and present issues they find bothersome in their own communities. Without difficulties, the women of the greater Akobo shortlisted at least 20 communal problems affecting their daily lives. Among these were lack of water, road networks, telephone networks, sufficient educational facilities, health care system, the problem of Murle cattle raiders and child abductions, lack of peace awareness, absence of grinding mills, sewing machines, lack of capacity building for rural women, total absence of peace, lack of adult education, lack of care for both widows and orphans, threat from armed gun men, and so on.

Arising from the SWN Peace Rally visit in greater Akobo counties, the women have discussed problems facing their communities and possible solutions. For such, the women recommended the following course of actions:

– to arrange a similar visit to other counties within the Greater Upper Nile particularly those inhabited by Jikany Nuer who are in constant feud with the bordering Lou Nuer;
– to arrange a similar visit to Murle (if security permit), neighboring Dinka Bor & Ngok, & the Nuer of Ayiot who also interact on daily and seasonal basis with Lou Nuer;
– to establish the first SWN field offices in Greater Upper Nile counties;
– to seek ways of empowering women by acting on their problems;
– to seek funding from development partners and GoSS;
– to engage stakeholders in forums to discuss women’s needs;
– to seek the intervention of relevant ministries of government;
– to seek the intervention of the office of the president and the vice president of GoSS;
– to carry out a proactive disarmament scheme among the clashing youths;
– to deploy sufficient and well equipped police and military personnel in all the payams to protect the civilians who suurendered their weapons (each payam with a military of police vehicle);
– to maintain regular interaction in term of visits between the rural and the central government giving rurals an effective way of having their voices heard and feel part of the government;

MatmEDIA SUDAN has compiled an official report for stakeholders regarding the above stated problems.

The SWN is very thankful to:
– The government of Southern Sudan–especially to the office of the FVP of Sudan and president of GoSS, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit
– The SPLM Party
– MatmEDIA SUDAN
– Members of the SWN
– Greater Akobo Women, and
– The Pieri payam of Uror County

This press release is compiled by a staff writer of MatmEDIA SUDAN and can be reached at: [email protected]. In the above report, we have used the term “greater Akobo counties” to refer to people of greater Lou Nuer area. If our use of the phrase has caused any inconveniences, please accept our apology in advance and advise us in the future on how to singularly address these communities.