Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative
Date: 4 Aug 2017
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
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.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
Parties: Hon. Ludoviko Lual Aken
Chairman, Aguok Community

Chief Justice Ambrose Riny Thiik
Chairman, Apuk Community – Juba

Gen. Agasio Akol Tong
Chairman, Awan Community

Jackson Akot Majok
Chairman, Kuac Community
Third parties: Most Rev. Bishop Elias Taban Parangi
Head of EPC Peace Desk
Republic of South Sudan
Description: The communities of Aguok, Apuk, Awan, and Kuac agree that a peacebuilding and healing conference is to be organized, that youths will be disarmed, and that a neutral investigative body is to be established in order to try current cases.

Agreement document: SS_170804_Signing Ceremony of Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiatives.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Rhetorical
Page 2:
7.   The communities resolved that peace building is required through:
...
c.   Youth engagement in income generation activities and training of organized forces

Page 2:
7.   The communities resolved that peace building is required through:
a.   Promotion of good governance
b.   Rural transformation programs
c.   Youth engagement in income generation activities and training of organized forces
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1:
3. The Communities of Gogrial State call on well wishers to provide immediate relief assistance to support the displaced people of Gogrial State
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 2:
6. The communities resolved that State Government must provide security in the State as well as restore the rule of law immediately
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1:
4.   The communities resolved that lasting peace can be achieved through provision of basic services such as:
a.   Water points for both human and animal consumption
b.   Schools and education
c.   Food security and health services
Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 1:
3.   The Communities of Gogrial State call on well wishers to provide immediate relief assistance to support the displaced people of Gogrial State
Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Infrastructure and reconstruction
Page 1:
4.   The communities resolved that lasting peace can be achieved through provision of basic services such as:
a.   Water points for both human and animal consumption
b.   Schools and education
c.   Food security and health services

Page 2:
7.   The communities resolved that peace building is required through:
a.   Promotion of good governance
b.   Rural transformation programs
c.   Youth engagement in income generation activities and training of organized forces
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: Page 1:
4. The communities resolved that lasting peace can be achieved through provision of basic services such as:
a. Water points for both human and animal consumption

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 2:
6. The communities resolved that State Government must provide security in the State as well as restore the rule of law immediately
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 1:
2. The communities resolved that Youth carrying unauthorized arms must be disarmed immediately
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: Transitional justice→Courts→National courts
Page 2:
8.   The communities resolved that lasting Peace can be achieved when:
a.   Neutral investigative body is established in Gogrial State to investigate and try current cases
b.   Special courts are established
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1:
1. Peace building and healing conference be organized in Gogrial State with the shortest possible time by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church that brings all sons and daughters of Gogrial state so as to arrest the conflict immediately.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: South Sudan Now (n.d.) PEACE DOCUMENTS - Gogrial, https://stephen-roese.squarespace.com/peace-documents

Peace is in our hands in Jesus names – AMEN

Signing Ceremony of Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiatives

Before the signing Ceremony of Gogrial State Grassroots peace initiatives, the following communicate was read

August 4th 2017

Communique

Driven by the Church divine mandate 2Corinthians 5:

18-20, the Most Rev. Bishop Elias Taban Parangi and members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Yei – South Sudan spent four days from July 31, 2017 to August 4th 2017 with State Government officials, intellectuals, elders, community leaders, chiefs, sons and daughters of Gogrial State and Yei River State Government to soul search and find a lasting solution to the conflict in Gogrial State.

After extensive deliberations on the theme:

Soul searching and Strategic planning for Gogrial State grassroots Peace Initiative (GPI) the meeting led to the following key resolutions:

1. Peace building and healing conference be organized in Gogrial State with the shortest possible time by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church that brings all sons and daughters of Gogrial state so as to arrest the conflict immediately.

2. The communities resolved that Youth carrying unauthorized arms must be disarmed immediately

3. The Communities of Gogrial State call on well wishers to provide immediate relief assistance to support the displaced people of Gogrial State

4. The communities resolved that lasting peace can be achieved through provision of basic services such as:

a. Water points for both human and animal consumption

b. Schools and education

c. Food security and health services

5. The communities of Gogrial State called upon all sons and daughters of Gogrial State to abandon evil and accept God in the quest for a lasting Peace in Gogrial State immediately

6. The communities resolved that State Government must provide security in the State as well as restore the rule of law immediately

7. The communities resolved that peace building is required through:

a. Promotion of good governance

b. Rural transformation programs

c. Youth engagement in income generation activities and training of organized forces

8. The communities resolved that lasting Peace can be achieved when:

a. Neutral investigative body is established in Gogrial State to investigate and try current cases

b. Special courts are established

The Signatories and the witness to this communique for the implementation of the Gogrial Peace Initiatives [GPI] are as follows:

Hon. Ludoviko Lual Aken

Chairman, Aguok Community

Chief Justice Ambrose Riny Thiik

Chairman, Apuk Community – Juba

Gen. Agasio Akol Tong

Chairman, Awan Community

Jackson Akot Majok

Chairman, Kuac Community

Witnessed by:

Most Rev. Bishop Elias Taban Parangi

Head of EPC Peace Desk

Republic of South Sudan