Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State, Acholi- Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012, Communique

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State, Acholi- Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012, Communique
Date: 20 Apr 2012
Agreement status: Unilateral document
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: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
Parties: 1. Dr Stans Okot, for the Acholi Community

2. Anjelo Voga, for the Madi Community
Third parties: Witnessed by:

1. Winnie Babihuga - UNMISS
2. (illegible) - ICC
3. (illegible) - ICC
Description: The document is the outcome of a peace conference led by the Inter Church Committee (ICC) and the State level government in Eastern Equatoria state. The agreement addresses inter-communal violence between two groups; the Acholi and the Madi. The document documents the positions of the parties in relation to ongoing efforts for peace in line with the involvement of the ICC and the state government. Substantively it calls for immediate ceasefire between communities. It also calls for an official inquiry into historical incidents of violence and road blockages and provides for compensation of those impacted by the local conflict and return of displaced persons.

Agreement document: SS_120420_Acholi Madi Peace Conference Communique.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
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: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Other
Page 2, HEREBY:

6. 6. Request the government and the relevant UN agencies to facilitate the return of all persons displaced by the unfortunate events of October/November 2011 and provide compensation to those who lost their loved ones and their property.
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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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: Page 2, HEREBY:

6. Request the government and the relevant UN agencies to facilitate the return of all persons displaced by the unfortunate events of October/November 2011...
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, HEREBY:

4. Pledge ourselves to collaborate with the EES Government and other partners to promote security, peace and development in Magwi County.
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: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, HEREBY:

4. Pledge ourselves to collaborate with the EES Government and other partners to promote security, peace and development Magwi County.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, HEREBY:

1. Call for an immediate end to all hostilities and all other forms of violent confrontations between our respective communities.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
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: Page 1, HEREBY:

5. Call upon the government to carry out a full-fledged investigation into the circumstances that led to the blocking of the Juba -Nimule road in 2010, the violent confrontations in Kit, Opari, Amee, Magwi, Panykwara of October/November 2011, and all other violent incidents that have occurred in Magwi County in the recent past, with a view to bringing their perpetrators to justice.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: Transitional justice→Reparations→Material reparations
Page 2, HEREBY:

6. Request the government and the relevant UN agencies to facilitate the return of all persons displaced by the unfortunate events of October/November 2011 and provide compensation to those who lost their loved ones and their property.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: Page 3, Witnessed by:

1. Winnie Babihuga - UNMISS
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: No specific mention.

Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State

Acholi — Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012

Communique

We, the mandated delegates to the Acholi-Madi Peace Conference that held in Fr Satunino Hall, Catholic Diocese of Torit, from 16 to 20 April 2012:

After deliberating for three days on common issues affecting our community and recognizing the fact that the Acholi and Madi share strong historical and kinship ties;

Noting that over the years our common ties have been consistently threatened and jeopardized by violent conflicts between our respective peoples;

Affirming our belief that without peace no form of development is possible in Magwi County;

HEREBY:

1. Call for an immediate end to all hostilities and all other forms of violent confrontations between our respective communities.

2. Commit ourselves to continue to work together with the ICC, its partners and the relevant levels of government to seek lasting peace and to promote peaceful coexistence between our respective populations.

3. Rededicate ourselves to pursuing bilateral talks under the auspices of the ICC and its partners with a view to seeking an acceptable and negotiated settlement of our common differences.

4. Pledge ourselves to collaborate with the EES Government and other partners to promoté security, peace and development Magwi County.

5. Call upon the government to carry out a full-fledged investigation into the circumstances that led to the blocking of the Juba —Nimule road in 2010, the violent confrontations in Kit, Opari, Amee, Magwi, Panykwara of October/November 2011, and all other violent incidents that have occurred in Magwi County in the recent past, with a view to bringing their perpetrators to justice.

6. Request the government and the relevant UN agencies to facilitate the return of all persons displaced by the unfortunate events of October/November 2011 and provide compensation to those who lost their loved ones and their property.

WE THE DELEGATES ALSO:

1. Congratulate the Government of Eastern Equatoria State, the ICC and its partners for making this conference possible.

2. Express our sincere thanks to the facilitators, keynote speakers, the caterers, the drivers and all those who labored hard to make our stay in Torit comfortable and this conference a success.

3. Pray God almighty to bless and crown our efforts as we seek lasting peace between our people.

We acknowledge that there are contentious and unresolved issues relating to the status and ownership of certain localities of Magwi County, notably Kit/Ayii, Opari and Iwire.

We urge the ICC, the Government and other relevant partners to continue to facilitate the search for a solution to these burning issues based on the recommendations made during this conference.

We note that this conference is the first crucial step towards seeking lasting peace and reconciliation between the Acholi and Madi.

We understand that other conferences and/or forums shall be convened by the ICC in the shortest possible time to critically examine the key issues raised in this conference.

In testimony whereof, this communique has been signed by us, pending the publication ofthe minutes and resolutions of this peace conference.

Done in Torit, today the 20th Day of April, 2012