Resolutions of Western Lakes State Grassroots Peace Initiative (Yei River State)

  • Country/entity
    South Sudan
  • Region
    Africa (excl MENA)
  • Agreement name
    Resolutions of Western Lakes State Grassroots Peace Initiative (Yei River State)
  • Date
    17 May 2018
  • 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
    Signed by the community's leaders of Western Lakes State as follows:

    Jul Machok Lieny - Senior Chief, Western Lakes State
    Manyiel Lieny Wol - Elder and Chief, Western Lakes State
    Elizabeth Agok Anyijong - Women leader, Western Lakes State
    Moses Deng Akeu - Youth Representative, Western Lakes State
  • Third parties
    Witnessed by:

    Most Rev. Bishop Elias Taban Parangi - Head of Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) Peace Desk

    Hon. Mabor Meen Wol - Minister of LG&LE and Governor's Representative
  • Description
    A short community agreement which calls for community reconciliation, dialogue, disarming of youth and reimposition of security and law by the local state government. The agreement also provides for measures to be carried out by the EPC in facilitating a space of healing and management of infrastructural rebuilding.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    As part of the Yei state grassroots initiatives, this can be viewed as a structured and supported process as part of a wider set of similar local community led initiatives. The process is supported by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and further research around the provisions suggests that there are clear supporting mechanisms proposed as part of proposed ongoing dialogues and wider resolution of the conflict in Yei River state. It seems the EPC are supported by partners in implementing and managing this particular example, notably by the presence and support of local government representation and a US international organisation.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    Yes
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    While there is no clear reference to the national process in the text, it seems these areas of Western Lakes State by their history may likely fall on a boundary connecting them to ongoing commitments from national agreement provisions addressing conflict transition and grassroots initiatives across regions of South Sudan. In the national agreement - Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan(12/09/2018), the provisions set out for the region of Bahr el Ghazal could be considered as addressing these areas as they were part of that region. This agreement could also be connected to the national agreement - Grassroots Agreement to Promote National Dialogue in Yei River State and South Sudan (30/04/2017), based on the text for this agreement now describing western lakes states being part of the wider Yei River State grassroots initiative. More broadly, further research suggests all grassroots peace initiatives are supported by the Church and are supposed to link up to the national but it has been questioned whether the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) have been effective in doing this. Nonetheless, a proposed linkage is clearly documented in the years around this local agreement.
  • Name of Locale
    Western Lakes State
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    6.808589, 29.635611
  • 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 mediator is directly referred to in the text as being Evangelical Presbyterian Church Bishop Elias Taban Parangi, who leads many of the similar peace initiatives across Yei state, managing and supporting further stages of dialogue going forward.
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

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

    No specific mention.

  • Grievance List
    Page 1, Resolutions of Western Lakes State Grassroots Peace Initiative, 2. EPC is offered a land (240m x 200m) in Rumbek center to establish any or all of its services there such as Trauma Healing center...

    Page 1, Resolutions of Western Lakes State Grassroots Peace Initiative, 3. The workshop resolved that, civilians and youth carrying unauthorized arms must be disarmed immediately by the Government.

    Page 1, Resolutions of Western Lakes State Grassroots Peace Initiative, 4. (f) ... Government to implement disciplinary laws against deserters.

    Page 1, Resolutions of Western Lakes State Grassroots Peace Initiative, 5. The workshop resolved that State Government must provide security in the State as well as restore the rule of law.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - SOUTH

SUDAN OFFICE OF THE PEACE DESK

YEI RIVER STATE

Resolutions of Western Lakes State Grassroots Peace Initiative IWLSGPII

May 17th, 2018

The Western Lakes State Government officials, Community Leaders, Chiefs,Youth and Women gathered in Yei at the invitation of the Bishop of Evangelical Presbyterian Church Bishop Most Rev Elias Taban Parangi.

The delegation spent three days from May 14th, 2018 to May 17th 2018 in search for a lasting Peace for the communities and people of Western Lakes State.

The three day gathering was concluded with the following resolutions:

1. Peace building and healing conference be organized in Western Lakes State within the shortest possible time by the Most Rev. Bishop Elias Taban Parangi of EPC that brings all sons and daughters of Western Lakes State and all 6.

neighboring States to pray and dialogue.

2. EPC is offered a land (240m x 200m) in Rumbek center to establish any or all

of its services there such as Trauma Healing center, Health center, Church and so forth.

3. The workshop resolved that, civilians and youth carrying unauthorized arms must be disarmed immediately by the Government.

4. The workshop also resolved that lasting peace can be achieved through provision of basic services by well-wishers such as:

(a) Companies or organizations that can establish water points for both human and animal consumptions,

(b) Organizations that can establish Basic Nursery, Elementary and Vocational training for the Galwengs.

(c) Organizations or companies that can come to Western Lakes State to open Feeder roads.

(d) Organizations that can connect the Western Lakes State to the world through radio provision and an extension of network companies.

(e) Organizations that can supply seeds and tools such as Oxen to improve food security.

(f) Organizations that can improve the living conditions of armed forces and

Government to implement disciplinary laws against deserters.

(g) EPC to lobby for Government, faith based groups and investors to create job opportunities.

5. The workshop resolved that State Government must provide security in the State as well as restore the rule of law.

The workshop resolved that peace building is achieved through:

(a) Youth engagement in income generation activities and training of organized forces to observe law and order

(b) EPC to lobby for organizations that will open micro-finance for small business to widows and orphans in Western Lake State.

EPC to send a small committee to go to Western Lakes State to go and verify the issues raised in this workshop.