South Sudanese MPs ratify Yau Yau peace deal
June 26, 2014 (JUNE) – South Sudan’s upper house of parliament has ratified a peace agreement signed between the government and Jonglei-based rebel leader David Yau Yau, saying it was the best way to address development failures in Pibor county.
“The establishment of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) [will] be done purely on administrative rationale is a healthier measure to address quite amicably the grim development failures that have endured the area,” party reads the resolution unanimously adopted by the MPs.
The MPs, during an ordinary session, also urged both the government and Yau Yau’s group to “expedite full implementation” of the agreement.
President Salva Kiir told MPs on 18 June to quickly ratify the agreement to avoid further conflict in Pibor.
Yau Yau launched military campaigns in Pibor after losing elections for Jonglei state assembly’s seat in 2010, accusing the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) of rigging the polls. He rejoined government in 2011, but rebelled again a year later.
GPAA encompasses Pibor and Pochalla counties in eastern Jonglei state. Four tribes, Murle, Jie, Anyauk and Kachipo inhabit the area. The Jie community, however, expressed reservations to the agreement when it was signed last month.
During Thursday’s session MPs also acknowledged the community’s reservation and called for wide consultation to ensure effective implementations.
“The Jie people [should] be duly, promptly and popularly consulted and the [peace] agreement with focus to establish their opinion on they choose to be inhabitants prior to the final demarcation of the GPAA”, the lawmakers argued.
Part of the Jie community live in Eastern Kapeota county of Eastern Equatoria state and others in Pibor. Recently, Eastern Equatoria lawmakers adopted a resolution calling on the central government to return Jie to Kapoeta, a proposal rejected by their counterparts from Jonglei.
(ST)