• Country/entity

  South Sudan
  Sudan
  Southern Kordofan - Blue Nile - Abyei
  

• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  Africa (excl MENA)
  Africa (excl MENA)
  

• Agreement name

  Convention for fraternity and peaceful co-existence between Messiriya Tribes, (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei: 3 – 11 October 2001

• Date

  11 Oct 2001

• 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

  Messeriya tribes (Ajaira) and the Dinka of Abyei

• Third parties

  -

• Description

  The Convention for Fraternity and Peaceful Coexistence between the Messiriya Tribes (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei, held from October 3-11, 2001, was a local peace agreement in the Abyei area of South Sudan. The agreement aimed to restore peaceful coexistence between the two tribes, who had previously coexisted peacefully for many years, but had experienced friction due to rebellion. The recommendations of the agreement included denouncing differences and factors of conflict, twinning between the tribes on pasture, agriculture, and other resources, ensuring the rights of citizenship for both tribes, and forming joint committees to tour states where displaced persons from Abyei currently live, among others.

• Agreement document

  SS_SD_011011_Convention for fraternity and peaceful co-existence between Messiriya Tribes, (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei.pdf | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

• Process type

  Informal but persistent process
  

• Rationale

  This agreement is one of many between the Messiriya and Dinka in Abyei, however this particular process does not seem to be supported by or connected to a peace process with formal support mechanisms.

• Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

  No

• Link to national process: articulated rationale

  The agreement does not specify a clear link to the national peace process.

• Name of Locale

  Abyei

• Nature Of Locale

  Region

• GPS Lat/Long (DD)

  11.033700, 27.746185

• Participant type

  Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
  

• Mediator, facilitator or similar

  No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Annex 1:

Convention for fraternity and peaceful co-existence between Messiriya Tribes, (Ajaira) and the Denka of Abyei:

3 – 11 October 2001-10-23

Introduction

Tribes have peacefully coexisted in Abyei area for years.

Relationships between the Messiriya Ajaira and their brethrens the Abyei Dinka became a model of peaceful coexistence:

they were brothers in everything, sharing everything, sweet or sour;

speaking each other's language and giving their children the same names on both sides irrespective of ethnicity and religion.

Friction came with rebellion.

However, the Messiriya and the Dinka, who are on the borderline and who have learned lessons, stood firmly against the enemies of peace.

Today, the sons of Abyei Province sat together under the auspices of their respective tribal leadership, to restore that coexistence, taking advantage of their knowledge of current relationships between tribal groups to avoid all factors of discord.

In the period 3 – 11 October, 2001, the Abyei Popular Peace Committee with their brethren from Messiriya Ajaira concluded the following conferences and meetings:

1. Citep Conference, (4 – 7 October), attended by 48 from all clans of the Messiriya Awlad Kamil

2. Bitaikh Conference, (8-9 October 2001) attended by 63 persons representing all clans of Messiriya Ajaira

3. Muglad Conference, attended by 52 persons representing both sections of the Messiriya.

This meeting ratified the recommendations from both conferences as following, acting on God's words, [from the Holy Quran]:

0 ye people!

We have created thee from a male and female and made of thee nations and tribes to know one another.

Recommendations:

The [Muglad] conference recommends the following:

A declaration to denounce differences and factors of conflict between the tribes of the area

Twinning between Dinka and Messiriya tribes on pasture, agriculture and other resources

Tribal leaders, each in his areas of jurisdiction, to ensure the rights of citizenship for the two tribes.

To communicate with the sons of Abyei with the rebel movement in and outside the country so that they contribute to development and stability

To give a chance to the Emirs and section leaders, (the Abyei Peace Committee) to continue their contacts with their sons with the rebel movement for the a total peace in the area

Formation of a joint committee, which will tour all states where people from Abyei Dinka currently live so that they return home immediately to participate in development, stability and production.

Encourage and insure safety of agricultural production around Abyei by establishing model villages in Naam of Deng Majok, Urn Balayil, Banton, Tajalei

Formation of a committee from both tribes and to let them understand the contents of the Convention for Fraternal and Peaceful Coexistence.

Give priority for the return of displaced persons to their respective areas, particularly the villages around Abyei, availing adequate circumstances.

In conclusion, the conference recommends that a committee composed of leaders from both tribes to meet the sons of Abyei area in northern states calling them to return to the area.

The conference also calls upon the Government and peace loving agencies to support this committee, empowering it with all means to achieve its objectives.