Waat Lou Nuer Covenant

• Country/entity

  South Sudan
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Waat Lou Nuer Covenant
• Date

  6 Nov 1999
• 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

  Delegates came from all districts in addition to Lou who came from Malakal, Khartoum and foreign countries.
  
  Lou Nuer Peace and Governance Council Membership
  
  Elected at Waat Lou Nuer Peace and Governance Conference
  
  6 November 1999
  
  Akobo District
  
  Michael Yien Jiek
  Executive Chief Thok Luak Yak
  Mrs. Mary Chol Kwany
  
  Nyirol District
  
  Head Chief Peter Gatkek Tolciek
  James Yoal Lul
  Mrs. Elizabeth Nyagun Chuol
  
  Dirror District
  
  Head Chief Majok Rambang
  Rebecka Nyanyak Wictuor
  John Kutei Mut
  
  Pulchuol District
  
  Head Chief Dhuor Luak Loth
  Buk Malual Muol
  Thomas Lual Puot
  
  Wuror District
  
  Head Chief Gatluak Thou Kuony
  Stephen Maluit Chuol
  Elizabeth Nyayonga Chuol
  
  Waat District
  
  Head Chief Kai Gatkal Ngundeng
  Mrs. Mary Nyayuok Jany
  Nyang Kerjiok Char
  
  At-Large Members
  
  Gabriel Yoal Dok, Chairperson
  John Luk Jok , Secretary
  Gatliak Gatlou Riak
  Nyang Chuol Dhuor
  Majok Guandong
  Kueth Luak Kok
  John Jok Yoal Gai
  Hoth Gor Luak
  Chuol Rambang
  Ket Gang Lual
  Stephen Tut Puol
  Cdr. Peter Bol Kong
  Cdr. David Reath Malual
  Cdr. Taban Juc
  Cdr. Chot Riek Pathot
  Dr. Wal Duany
  Rev. David Kueat Wicluak
  Rev. Peter Tut Pur
• Third parties

  New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC)
• Description

  Short agreement aiming at establishing peace between factions of the Lou Nuer by increasing local governance and customary law as well as the separation of powers.

• Agreement document

  SS_991106_Waat Lou Nuer Covenant.pdf | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

• Process type

  Formal structured process
  
• Rationale

  This agreement is part of a wider 'People-to-People process' facilitated by the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) that led to the signing of other accords prior to and after this agreement.
• Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

  No
• Link to national process: articulated rationale

  This agreement is not technically linked to the national process between the government in Khartoum and South Sudanese opposition forces, but it is part of a series of agreements resulting from the Wunlit peace conference that eventually helped to pave the way for a rapproachment between John Garang and Riek Machar's factions (e.g. see Machakos Protocol, 2002).
• Name of Locale

  Jonglei state
• Nature Of Locale

  Region
• GPS Lat/Long (DD)

  8.201780, 32.157839
• Participant type

  Local state actor
  Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
  Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
  
• Mediator, facilitator or similar

  Mediator or similar referred to
  Mediator (references)

  Mediator: New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC)
  Type of mediator/facilitator/similar

  Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

Waat Lou Nuer Covenant

Waat, Sudan

6 November 1999

The Lou Nuer met in a People-to-People Peace and Governance Conference in Waat, Sudan under the auspices of the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) from 1-7 November 1999.

Delegates came from all districts in addition to Lou who came from Malakal, Khartoum and foreign countries.

Today, we declare an end to years of internal conflicts among our people, battles between different factions, and at least three different military forces and civil administrations.

Our internal strife has made us vulnerable to conflicts with our neighbors on every side, and the Government of Sudan has armed various groups within our midst to stir up confusion and destruction.

We have sealed this Covenant, with its included Resolutions, by the traditional sacrifice of a White Bull (Tu-Bor) and with Christian worship.

We have met to establish a lasting peace, to build a common system of governance and to appeal to others to join us in rebuilding our communities and spreading this peace and reconciliation to all of south Sudan.

We have agreed to the following:-

Peace

An end to all conflicts among Lou Nuer

Amnesty for offenses against persons and property prior to 1 November 1999

A call to all Lou people to return to home areas and embrace the peace

Extending the hand of peace to Gaawar Nuer to our west and Jikany Nuer to our East.

We stand ready to resolve any outstanding issues and build a permanent peace.

Extending the hand of peace to all neighbouring people on the East Bank of the Nile.

With the NSCC, we invite all Nilotic peoples on the East Bank of the Nile to send delegations in February 2000 for a People-to-People peace conference.

Governance

Strongly urge our political and military leaders to construct civil and military governance systems that will unite all Nuer people and contribute to a reconciled and united south Sudan.

This system must be outside the control of the Government of Sudan or persons working in Government of Sudan controlled areas of the country.

A separation of civil and judicial administration from the military administration;

Empowerment of chiefs to handle all local judicial cases and a rebuilding of the civil judicial system;

Establishment of a police system that will maintain order within our communities and be accountable to the civil administration;

Instruct all civil administrators to be accountable for their areas, to the people, and to work in a close and transparent manner with indigenous and international NGOs;

Require the regular military and the White Army to demobilize all children under age fifteen;

Commit ourselves to development of water resources that enable us to have permanent communities, the establishment of schools for our children, health care for our people, and food to sustain ourselves all year.

Appeals from Lou Nuer

To all Nuer:

Appeal for unity, peace and shared responsibility for security within a unified political administration.

To all Neighbors:

We declare a unilateral, permanent cease-fire and express our desire to build peace with our neighbors.

To all Southerners:

We appeal for an unending commitment to unite south Sudan so that security is assured, our political objectives are realized and our rights protected.

To all Friends of South Sudan:

We appeal for partners who will help us rebuild our communities, strengthen our civil administration, and provide support for our common security.

A Word of Promise:

We will protect this peace against anyone from within our ranks or who would come against us from the outside attempting to destroy our unity and peace.

For this peace we are willing to die so that our children may live in peace and enjoy this good land that God has given to us.

Lou Nuer Peace and Governance Council Membership

Elected at Waat Lou Nuer Peace and Governance Conference

6 November 1999

Akobo District

Michael Yien Jiek

Executive Chief Thok Luak Yak

Mrs. Mary Chol Kwany

Nyirol District

Head Chief Peter Gatkek Tolciek

James Yoal Lul

Mrs. Elizabeth Nyagun Chuol

Dirror District

Head Chief Majok Rambang

Rebecka Nyanyak Wictuor

John Kutei Mut

Pulchuol District

Head Chief Dhuor Luak Loth

Buk Malual Muol

Thomas Lual Puot

Wuror District

Head Chief Gatluak Thou Kuony

Stephen Maluit Chuol

Elizabeth Nyayonga Chuol

Waat District

Head Chief Kai Gatkal Ngundeng

Mrs. Mary Nyayuok Jany

Nyang Kerjiok Char

At-Large Members

Gabriel Yoal Dok, Chairperson

John Luk Jok , Secretary

Gatliak Gatlou Riak

Nyang Chuol Dhuor

Majok Guandong

Kueth Luak Kok

John Jok Yoal Gai

Hoth Gor Luak

Chuol Rambang

Ket Gang Lual

Stephen Tut Puol

Cdr. Peter Bol Kong

Cdr. David Reath Malual

Cdr. Taban Juc

Cdr. Chot Riek Pathot

Dr. Wal Duany

Rev. David Kueat Wicluak

Rev. Peter Tut Pur