Meetings Ease Tensions Among Ethnic Groups In Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan

A new sense of peace and security is emerging between the Buya and Toposa ethnic groups in Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan, thanks to a recent series of tribal meetings coordinated by Galcholo Community Based Rehabilitation. The meetings were funded through a USAID/OTI South Sudan Transition Initiative grant administered by Pact.

Plagued by a lack of security due to cattle raiding, violent disputes over grazing land, water and other natural resources, and a dangerous abundance of weaponry, Budi and Kapoeta counties have seen the withdrawal of support from numerous aid agencies in recent years. The civil authorities' capacity to address the lack of governance has been weak due to the civil war. Consequently, the region has suffered from a severe shortage of education, health care, water and sanitation services.

Despite this downward cycle, the authorities, several organizations and key stakeholders have attempted to reconcile conflicts and restore peace in the region during the past decade. Although some of these initiatives produced only short-term benefits, they have spawned a growing consensus that local peace efforts need bolstering and consolidated support to succeed.

Catalyst for Peace

In June of this year, the issues came to a head with the abduction of a Buya child by the Toposa. The 10-year-old boy was taken more than 200 kms to Moru Akipi, a fertile grazing area near the Ethiopian border. The captors had planned to trade the boy for cattle. However, other members of the Toposa tribe living in Riwoto, appalled by the crime, walked all the way to Moru Akipi to bring the child back. Fearful of entering Buya land to return the child, they took him to local authorities. The authorities in turn consulted with Pact staff in Kapoeta. Together the authorities and a Pact field officer returned the child to the Buya.

Moved by the Toposas' willingness to walk over 400 kms to collect the child, and viewing the milestone as an opportunity to end years of violent conflict, Anna Nalemuo Lotubatamoi, a leader of Buya women in Chawa, enlisted other women in her village to join her on a crusade to make peace with the Toposa. Armed with only courage, they walked 42 kms from Chawa to Riwoto, through deeply insecure territory. Stopping at various villages along the way, she was able to address the Toposa leaders and convince them to begin peace dialogues. As a result of her brave stand, space was created to start addressing the complex issues of law and order and conflict. SSTI staff then worked with Cdr. Lewis Lobong, commissioner for Kapoeta, Cdr. Peter Longole, chairman of the new Toposa-Boya Peace Council, and Cdr. Emilio Loki, commissioner for Budi, alongside community leaders to move around the area mobilizing people for peace.

As a result of these joint local authority/community efforts to establish peace, Pact has pinpointed Kidepo Valley, which runs from Budi to Kapoeta counties, as a key area for intervention. With funding from OTI, Pact has worked with all stakeholders to develop the Kidepo Valley Peace and Recovery Plan. This plan focuses on consolidating support in core areas identified by the community as critical to restoring peace. These areas include: expanding local reconciliation meetings; strengthening institutions to mitigate conflict and maintain peace; assisting returning populations; managing natural resources; developing infrastructure and social services; improving markets; and controlling arms.

In support of this plan, Pact awarded a $63,854 OTI in-kind grant to Galcholo in August 2004 to bolster a variety of initiatives to reduce violent conflicts, promote harmony and provide equitable access to common natural resources between the Buya and Toposa communities.

Resolving Conflicts

Through this OTI grant and with support from the authorities, Galcholo teamed up with the Toposa Development Association to coordinate a series of five peace and reconciliation meetings between the Buya and Toposa ethnic groups in various sites in Budi and Kapoeta counties in mid-October. Drawing more than 1,300 participants over a three-day period, the meetings involved representatives from the SPLM and also attracted the county authorities, civil society, community-based organizations, religious groups, development agencies, and international and national NGOs. In addition, elders and villagers from Kapoeta town, Machi, Paringa, Riwoto and Kimotong joined in the discussions.

The surge of support for these meetings sparked a follow-up peace dialogue in Kimotong payam just days later that drew 3,000 participants, including 800 women. The meetings focused on building trust between the Buya and Toposa, addressing the issue of cattle raiding, and identifying ways to share grazing land and water sources as well as identifying the role that the authorities could play.

The Buya-Toposa peace talks produced several key resolutions, including:

• Clearing 42 kilometers of road from Napak in Budi County to Riwoto in Kapoeta County
• Monitoring and providing security during the road work
• Establishing three police posts (in Kaliya, Lochoriyatom and Napak) for security and law enforcement among pastoral communities
• Creating a market and drilling a borehole at Napak
• Facilitating future talks for Buya and Toposa youth to air grievances and discuss possible solutions to cattle raiding
• Providing "peace education" for adults, youth and women to better understand their roles in promoting peace and sharing natural resources
• Disseminating results from the meetings throughout the communities

In addition, participants assigned the responsibility for overseeing these activities to specific stakeholders. Clearing the road between Budi and Kapoeta counties was seen as a critical component to building peace. The new road will provide an avenue for villagers to transport and trade livestock and goods, and for the civil authority to monitor security among communities and reduce cattle raids. Galcholo and TDA are collaborating on efforts to begin road clearing in November. Expected to take up to one month to complete, the road work will be performed by villagers through a food-for-work program.

As a symbol of reconciliation, 21 representatives from both communities, including warriors, elders and Galcholo and TDA staff, walked the entire 42 km route at the close of the meetings. Members from the SPLM and SSTI welcomed the walkers to Riwoto with a feast and celebration.

Lessons Learned

Participants agreed that in order to create lasting peace among the pastoral communities, the villagers must develop alternatives to raising livestock. They identified the need to learn basic business skills, such as how to sell goods and services in the marketplace. Participants from the pastoral communities also agreed on the importance of working closely with the authorities and providing them with early warning signs of potential cattle raids or danger to villages. In addition, there was a general consensus that ongoing cooperation between local authorities, indigenous organizations and the two communities is vital to sustaining peace.