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Convention for fraternity and peaceful co-existence between Messiriya Tribes, (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei: 3 – 11 October 2001

  • Country/entity

    South Sudan
    Sudan
    Southern Kordofan - Blue Nile - Abyei
  • Region

    Africa (excl MENA)
    Africa (excl MENA)
    Africa (excl MENA)
  • Agreement name

    Convention for fraternity and peaceful co-existence between Messiriya Tribes, (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei: 3 – 11 October 2001
  • Date

    11 Oct 2001
  • Agreement status

    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement

    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level

    Intrastate/local conflict ( Sudan Conflicts (1955 - ) )
  • Stage

    Framework/substantive - partial
  • Conflict nature

    Inter-group
  • Peace process

    South Sudan: Pre-secession Local Peace Processes
  • Parties

    Messeriya tribes (Ajaira) and the Dinka of Abyei
  • Third parties

    -
  • Description

    The Convention for Fraternity and Peaceful Coexistence between the Messiriya Tribes (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei, held from October 3-11, 2001, was a local peace agreement in the Abyei area of South Sudan. The agreement aimed to restore peaceful coexistence between the two tribes, who had previously coexisted peacefully for many years, but had experienced friction due to rebellion. The recommendations of the agreement included denouncing differences and factors of conflict, twinning between the tribes on pasture, agriculture, and other resources, ensuring the rights of citizenship for both tribes, and forming joint committees to tour states where displaced persons from Abyei currently live, among others.


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
    Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    3.Tribal leaders, each in his areas of jurisdiction, to ensure the rights of citizenship for the two tribes.
    4.To communicate with the sons of Abyei with the rebel movement in and outside the country so that they contribute to development and stability]
    Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Substantive
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    8.Formation of a committee from both tribes and to let them understand the contents of the Convention for Fraternal and Peaceful Coexistence.
  • Religious groups

    No specific mention.

  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons
    Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    6.Formation of a joint committee, which will tour all states where people from Abyei Dinka currently live so that they return home immediately to participate in development, stability and production.
    ...
    9.Give priority for the return of displaced persons to their respective areas, particularly the villages around Abyei, availing adequate circumstances.
  • 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
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    4.To communicate with the sons of Abyei with the rebel movement in and outside the country so that they contribute to development and stability

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
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    3.Tribal leaders, each in his areas of jurisdiction, to ensure the rights of citizenship for the two tribes.
    ...
    5.To give a chance to the Emirs and section leaders, (the Abyei Peace Committee) to continue their contacts with their sons with the rebel movement for the a total peace in the area
  • 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
    Rights related issues→Citizenship→Citizen, general
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    3.Tribal leaders, each in his areas of jurisdiction, to ensure the rights of citizenship for the two tribes.
  • 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, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    6.Formation of a joint committee, which will tour all states where people from Abyei Dinka currently live so that they return home immediately to participate in development, stability and production.
  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    2.Twinning between Dinka and Messiriya tribes on pasture, agriculture and other resources.
    ...
    7.Encourage and insure safety of agricultural production around Abyei by establishing model villages in Naam of Deng Majok, Urn Balayil, Banton, Tajalei
  • 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
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    2.Twinning between Dinka and Messiriya tribes on pasture, agriculture and other resources.
  • Cultural heritage

    No specific mention.

  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    7.Encourage and insure safety of agricultural production around Abyei by establishing model villages in Naam of Deng Majok, Urn Balayil, Banton, Tajalei
  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
    Page 1, Recommendations:,
    The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:,
    ...
    4.To communicate with the sons of Abyei with the rebel movement in and outside the country so that they contribute to development and stability
  • 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

    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

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


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
    Rift Valley Institute, 2002. Conflict Transformation in Abyei [presentation at Joint Donors Meeting hosted by Netherlands Embassy], 4 June 2002. SLPD_20020604_01, p. 6. Sudan Open Archive. Available at: https://www.sudanarchive.net/

Annex 1:

Convention for fraternity and peaceful co-existence between Messiriya Tribes, (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei:

3 – 11 October 2001-10-23

Introduction

Tribes have peacefully coexisted in Abyei area for years.

Relationships between the Messiriya Ajaira and their brethrens the Abyei Dinka became a model of peaceful coexistence:

they were brothers in everything, sharing everything, sweet or sour;

speaking each other's language and giving their children the same names on both sides irrespective of ethnicity and religion.

Friction came with rebellion.

However, the Messiriya and the Dinka, who are on the borderline and who have learned lessons, stood firmly against the enemies of peace.

Today, the sons of Abyei Province sat together under the auspices of their respective tribal leadership, to restore that coexistence, taking advantage of their knowledge of current relationships between tribal groups to avoid all factors of discord.

In the period 3 – 11 October, 2001, the Abyei Popular Peace Committee with their brethren from Messiriya Ajaira concluded the following conferences and meetings:

1. Citep Conference, (4 – 7 October), attended by 48 from all clans of the Messiriya Awlad Kamil

2. Bitaikh Conference, (8-9 October 2001) attended by 63 persons representing all clans of Messiriya Ajaira

3. Muglad Conference, attended by 52 persons representing both sections of the Messiriya.

This meeting ratified the recommendations from both conferences as following, acting on God's words, [from the Holy Quran]:

0 ye people!

We have created thee from a male and female and made of thee nations and tribes to know one another.

Recommendations:

The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:

A declaration to denounce differences and factors of conflict between the tribes of the area

Twinning between Dinka and Messiriya tribes on pasture, agriculture and other resources

Tribal leaders, each in his areas of jurisdiction, to ensure the rights of citizenship for the two tribes.

To communicate with the sons of Abyei with the rebel movement in and outside the country so that they contribute to development and stability

To give a chance to the Emirs and section leaders, (the Abyei Peace Committee) to continue their contacts with their sons with the rebel movement for the a total peace in the area

Formation of a joint committee, which will tour all states where people from Abyei Dinka currently live so that they return home immediately to participate in development, stability and production.

Encourage and insure safety of agricultural production around Abyei by establishing model villages in Naam of Deng Majok, Urn Balayil, Banton, Tajalei

Formation of a committee from both tribes and to let them understand the contents of the Convention for Fraternal and Peaceful Coexistence.

Give priority for the return of displaced persons to their respective areas, particularly the villages around Abyei, availing adequate circumstances.

In conclusion, the conference recommends that a committee composed of leaders from both tribes to meet the sons of Abyei area in northern states calling them to return to the area.

The conference also calls upon the Government and peace loving agencies to support this committee, empowering it with all means to achieve its objectives.