Kupera County Peace and Reconciliation Communique

  • Country/entity
    South Sudan
  • Region
    Africa (excl MENA)
  • Agreement name
    Kupera County Peace and Reconciliation Communique
  • Date
    21 Mar 2019
  • 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
    The community and government of Kupera county represented by chiefs, elders and government representatives. Signed by:

    Ismail Taban Kango - Paramount Chief Kupera County
    James Ila Charles - Head Chief of Wuji "B" Court
    Luka Lasu Philmona - Head Chief of Mundu "B" Court
    Thomas Nyobulo - Head Chief Kupera "B" Court
    Charles Tabu Dema - Head Chief Korobe "B" Court
    Mikaya Wani - Head Chief Koyoki "B" Court
    Tito lomude Manase - Head Chief Dongoro "B" Court
    S.Charles Tabu Dema,
    Mikaya Wani, Head
    Tito lomude Manase, Head
  • Third parties
    Witnessed by:

    Arch Bishop Elias Taban Parangi - Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Head of EPC Peace Desk, Yei River State
  • Description
    A short community reconciliation agreement which attempts to resolve ongoing conflict and community disputes in the local area. Within broader ongoing reconciliation efforts, the agreement provides for setting up further dialogues, security reform and freedom of worship. The local state government also commits to engage with partners to provide agricultural resources and training of community leaders in policing and capacity building.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    The agreement follows a pattern of signing around this time in Yei state, led by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and supported by community leaders and local state government representatives. A few days earlier there is also another similar signing nearby in the county of Mukaya, following the same structure. Regarding support to end ongoing conflict issues in the area involving local armed groups and government forces, there are also clear commitments by the EPC and joint council of elders to oversee broader reconciliation efforts, with ongoing dialogue conferences proposed and local government commitment to training local leaders around capacity building.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    This is a highly localised agreement where there is no clear reference in the text and the presence of local/state government led provisions does not seem clear enough. The signatories also do not clearly suggest involvement or a link to any part of another national process.
  • Name of Locale
    Kupera County
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    4.118173, 30.964542
  • 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)
    The agreement describes Bishop Elias Taban as supporting and organising the peace and reconciliation conference. This is in keeping with the other initiatives taking place in Yei state at this time, Bishop Taban tends to mediate and is signed as a witness.
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 1, 4. Freedom of worship be allowed in Kupera County

    Page 2, Closing statement, ... Tumalu thanked the ENAF team for abandoning rebellion and choosing peace, and then asked for forgiveness from God
  • Grievance List
    Page 1, Kupera Community chairman Mr. Edward Lubert statement, Mr Lubert expressed anger and frustration with his people who were against him and the commissioner's move to Kupera and outlined the following points:
    -The lost of his 60 cows that were destroyed during the conflict and the destructions of his business entities.
    -That people of Kupera have no identity and are not straight forward. Adding that he cannot be identified as a Pojulu and that the question of Kupera identity need to be addressed.
    - Mr Lubert forgave his people who caused him and his family harm.

    Page 1, 3. Government to establish a stable security in Kupera County
    4. Freedom of worship be allowed in Kupera County
  • Cattle rustling/banditry
    Page 1, Kupera Community chairman Mr. Edward Lubert - statement, ... The lost of his 60 cows that were destroyed during the conflict and the destructions of his business entities.
  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

Kupera Community chairman Mr. Edward Lubert.

Mr Lubert expressed anger and frustration with his people who were against him and the commissioner's move to Kupera and outlined the following points:

The lost of his 60 cows that were destroyed during the conflict and the destructions of his business entities.

That people of Kupera have no identity and are not straight forward.

Adding that he cannot be identified as a Pojulu and that the question of Kupera identity need to be addressed.

Kupera County Peace and Reconciliation communiqué

The people and government of Kupera County represented by the Paramount Chief, chiefs, elders, government representatives, community leaders gathered at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) premises in Yei on March 19th to 21 st 2019 at the invitation of Hon.

Emmanuel Khamis Richard, Commissioner of Kupera County under the guidance ofArch — Bishop Elias Taban Parangi to attend a peace and reconciliation conference.

After two (2) days of deliberations, the conference resolved that:

1. Peace and reconciliation conference be held in Kupera led by EPC Peace Desk in partnership with ECSS Mundu Diocese and other churches that bring all the people of Kupera together;

2. A reconciliation and healing conference be held that bring the counties of Lainya, Kupera and Mukaya together led by the respective commissioners;

3. Government to establish a stable security in Kupera County

4. Freedom of worship be allowed in Kupera County

5. Government to engage partners in provisions of agricultural tools like tractors, hoes and seeds

6. Government to engage partners in training of community leaders and community policing (capacity building)

Signed by:

Ismail Taban Kango - Paramount Chief Kupera County

James Ila Charles - Head Chief of Wuji "B" Court

Luka Lasu Philmona - Head Chief of Mundu "B" Court

Thomas Nyobulo - Head Chief Kupera "B" Court

Charles Tabu Dema - Head Chief Korobe "B" Court

Mikaya Wani - Head Chief Koyoki "B" Court

Tito lomude Manase - Head Chief Dongoro "B" Court

S.Charles Tabu Dema,

Mikaya Wani, Head

Tito lomude Manase, Head

Witnessed by:

Arch Bishop Elias Taban Parangi - Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Head of EPC Peace Desk, Yei River Stat

Mary Tumalu - Chair Lady, Kupera County

Tumalu expressed happiness and called on the participants to give a round of applause as a sign ofthanks to Arch Bishop Elias Taban for all the support and for organizing the peace and reconciliation conference.

Tumalu also encouraged participants to speak the truth and to open hearts for forgiveness.

And finally, Tumalu attributed the survivors of the elders ofKupera with the help of Hon.

Emmanuel Khamis Richard, the Commissioner of Kupera.

Lastly, Tumalu thanked the ENAF team for abandoning rebellion and choosing peace, and then asked for forgiveness from God and the ENAF representatives.