Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative

  • 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 - ) )
  • 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.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    Agreement is the result of a one-month mediation process facilitated by the Evangelical Presbyterian church and His Voice Global USA. This mediation process was approved by the President of South Sudan (see reference). Large group of participants, including government officials, met twice as part of this process. Another local peace agreement dealt with conflict in Gogrial State (see Gogrial Agreement between Twic, Aweil East, Aweil South and Gogrial West Counties of 13/07/2013), suggesting that this is not an isolated example. Secondary sources also suggest that there have been previous peace agreements and initiatives (see reference, World Vision 2018).
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    While the mediation process that led to this agreement was approved by the Persident of South Sudan, there is no evidence that suggests that this agreement is linked to the national-level peace process.
  • Name of Locale
    Gogrial State
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    8.299814, 27.986469
  • Participant type
    Local state actor
    International or transnational actor
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    Mediator and funder: Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), Most Rev. Bishop: Elias Taban Parangi, Head of EPC Peace Desk, Republic South Sudan; His Voice Global USA, Dr. Vernon Burger (see references)
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder International or transnational actor

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

    No specific mention.

  • Grievance List

    No specific mention.

  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

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