Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State, Acholi- Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012, Communique

• Country/entity

  South Sudan
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State, Acholi- Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012, Communique
• Date

  20 Apr 2012
• Agreement status

  Unilateral document
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

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

  Ceasefire/related
• Conflict nature

  Inter-group
• Peace process

  South Sudan: Post-secession Local agreements
• Parties

  1. Dr Stans Okot, for the Acholi Community
  
  2. Anjelo Voga, for the Madi Community
• Third parties

  Witnessed by:
  
  1. Winnie Babihuga - UNMISS
  2. (illegible) - ICC
  3. (illegible) - ICC
• Description

  The document is the outcome of a peace conference led by the Inter Church Committee (ICC) and the State level government in Eastern Equatoria state. The agreement addresses inter-communal violence between two groups; the Acholi and the Madi. The document documents the positions of the parties in relation to ongoing efforts for peace in line with the involvement of the ICC and the state government. Substantively it calls for immediate ceasefire between communities. It also calls for an official inquiry into historical incidents of violence and road blockages and provides for compensation of those impacted by the local conflict and return of displaced persons.

• Agreement document

  SS_120420_Acholi Madi Peace Conference Communique.pdf | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

• Process type

  Formal structured process
  
• Rationale

  Further reading suggests this may be part of a broader pattern of peace or reconciliation initiatives led by the Church to support local peace among communities and groups. There is suggestion in the text that the support from the Inter Church Committee in Eastern Equatoria state is consistent and it seems implicit that there will be other processes held by these groups. An UNMISS representative also signs as a witness / third party, providing further external support to this process.
• Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

  No
• Link to national process: articulated rationale

  No clear link to a national process or direct reference in text.
• Name of Locale

  Magwi County
• Nature Of Locale

  Smaller
• GPS Lat/Long (DD)

  4.131423, 32.299965
• Participant type

  Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
  
• Mediator, facilitator or similar

  Mediator or similar referred to
  Mediator (references)

  (names illegible - see witnesses 2 and 3 in the agreement text).
  Type of mediator/facilitator/similar

  Regional state actor Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

Inter Church Committee of Eastern Equatorial State

Acholi — Madi Peace Conference of April 16-20, 2012

Communique

We, the mandated delegates to the Acholi-Madi Peace Conference that held in Fr Satunino Hall, Catholic Diocese of Torit, from 16 to 20 April 2012:

After deliberating for three days on common issues affecting our community and recognizing the fact that the Acholi and Madi share strong historical and kinship ties;

Noting that over the years our common ties have been consistently threatened and jeopardized by violent conflicts between our respective peoples;

Affirming our belief that without peace no form of development is possible in Magwi County;

HEREBY:

1. Call for an immediate end to all hostilities and all other forms of violent confrontations between our respective communities.

2. Commit ourselves to continue to work together with the ICC, its partners and the relevant levels of government to seek lasting peace and to promote peaceful coexistence between our respective populations.

3. Rededicate ourselves to pursuing bilateral talks under the auspices of the ICC and its partners with a view to seeking an acceptable and negotiated settlement of our common differences.

4. Pledge ourselves to collaborate with the EES Government and other partners to promoté security, peace and development Magwi County.

5. Call upon the government to carry out a full-fledged investigation into the circumstances that led to the blocking of the Juba —Nimule road in 2010, the violent confrontations in Kit, Opari, Amee, Magwi, Panykwara of October/November 2011, and all other violent incidents that have occurred in Magwi County in the recent past, with a view to bringing their perpetrators to justice.

6. Request the government and the relevant UN agencies to facilitate the return of all persons displaced by the unfortunate events of October/November 2011 and provide compensation to those who lost their loved ones and their property.

WE THE DELEGATES ALSO:

1. Congratulate the Government of Eastern Equatoria State, the ICC and its partners for making this conference possible.

2. Express our sincere thanks to the facilitators, keynote speakers, the caterers, the drivers and all those who labored hard to make our stay in Torit comfortable and this conference a success.

3. Pray God almighty to bless and crown our efforts as we seek lasting peace between our people.

We acknowledge that there are contentious and unresolved issues relating to the status and ownership of certain localities of Magwi County, notably Kit/Ayii, Opari and Iwire.

We urge the ICC, the Government and other relevant partners to continue to facilitate the search for a solution to these burning issues based on the recommendations made during this conference.

We note that this conference is the first crucial step towards seeking lasting peace and reconciliation between the Acholi and Madi.

We understand that other conferences and/or forums shall be convened by the ICC in the shortest possible time to critically examine the key issues raised in this conference.

In testimony whereof, this communique has been signed by us, pending the publication ofthe minutes and resolutions of this peace conference.

Done in Torit, today the 20th Day of April, 2012