Boma Development Initiative Report

Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South By Jared Ferrie

Introduction groups that often lead to deadly exploited by northerners who Establishing security is one attacks. funnelled wealth to the Khartoum- of the greatest challenges Compounding such problems is based establishment. Thus, the south faced by the government of the ubiquity of small arms left over was left with little infrastructure or the Republic of (RoSS), from a decades-long war, which also industry, factors that also contribute to which declared independence July 9. militarized society and broke down ongoing violence in this new era of Aside from violence on the border traditional structures of authority. The independence.1 with its northern neighbour the RoSS marginalization of southerners, which Such problems are common to must contend with a host of militia was a root cause of the war in the first much of South Sudan, but they are groups as well as a culture of cattle place, has also left its imprint. For particularly acute in the eastern state of raiding, and tensions between ethnic decades, southern resources were Jonglei. With a population of about

PHOTO: MURLE CHILDREN WALKING THROUGH TALL GRASS, IN LEKONGOLE, NEAR , . CREDIT: SVEN TORFINN / PANOS

This report was produced in partnership with Minority Rights Group International 2 Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan

1.3 million, Jonglei is the base for a results. The subsequent peace process, the fighting, between 200 and 300 number of militia, and the state is led by the Sudan Council of Churches people were killed and about 4,400 home to a diverse array of ethnic (SCC), points to methods of displaced. Ninety-one people were groups that often compete for scarce resolution, and its inherent challenges. reportedly abducted.11 resources. Such competition, in Interviews with stakeholders suggest addition to traditional rivalries, which possible longer-term initiatives that 2 – 23 June intensified during the civil war and could lead to lasting peace between • During this period, Lou Nuer have also been exacerbated by such communities. youth from gathered underdevelopment, led to clashes that in where they left thousands of people dead in the attacked communities and stole state during 2011. The United Nations Anatomy of a conflict cattle. About 430 people were Secretary General’s Special On 18 August, thousands of killed, according to the county Representative to South Sudan, Hilde heavily armed Murle commissioner who shared this Johnson, said: attacked Lou Nuer information during a meeting with communities in Uror county, killing the SCC. The number of dead may The escalation that has taken more than 700 people, according to be higher than suggested, as 147 place in Jonglei has a threshold local authorities.6 The UN put the women and children were reported that is much higher than what we figure at 340.7 In a broader sense, this missing; some may have been killed have seen in other states. … And was the latest in example of tensions while others were abducted.12 if it gets out of hand we’ll be in a exploding between groups that have Between 7,000 and 10,000 people situation where the cycle of long been rivals. But this particular were displaced.13 violence will escalate to unknown attack can be seen as the culmination • Although some of the violence took proportions.2 of a recent conflict that had been place in the area around Mainyabol simmering for months. Between the village where there is an SPLA At a governors’ forum in the South beginning of February and the end of garrison, soldiers did not engage Sudanese capital, , on 17 August more than 1,000 people were the attackers. UNMISS official A November, Jonglei Governor Hussein killed, tens of thousands displaced and noted that most soldiers at that Maar Nyout said at least 3,000 people hundreds of women and children garrison are Nuer. He said, ‘The had been killed in inter-ethnic conflicts abducted.8 The conflict may have SPLA later said it had no orders to in his state during 2011.3 To put that involved a number of relatively less intervene.’ He added that the number into perspective, the United violent incidents that have gone Murle, ‘accused the government in Nations Office for the Coordination of unnoted during this time period, but a Jonglei of failing to prevent the Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) general timeline complied by MRG attacks because they were Murle’. reported that about 2,500 people were from various sources is as follows: killed in violent conflicts in 2009 18 August throughout the whole of Southern 6 February • At 5 a.m., Murle youth from Pibor Sudan.4 About 750 of those killed in • Murle youth from Pibor County County attacked Lou Nuer 2009 were killed during a week-long attacked Uror County. Eight people settlements in Piera Payam in Uror battle between the Lou Nuer and the were killed, including two chiefs.9 County. The attacks spread to two Murle.5 It should be noted that such • Although the number of fatalities more payams, Motot and Pulchuol, statistics are extremely hard to verify was relatively low, the fact that two and affected 10 villages in total. due to the lack of road access and chiefs were killed ‘inflamed The fighting affected area as large as communications networks in rural passions’, according to UNMISS 150 square kilometres, some crops areas. But the figures do point to official A, one of two officials from were destroyed and most villages endemic violence that appears to have the United Nations Mission in were burnt to the ground.14 worsened in Jonglei in 2011. South Sudan (UNMISS) who • According to an assessment carried Many of those killed in Jonglei in spoke on condition of anonymity out by local authorities, 742 people 2011 were victims of attacks and as they were not authorized to were killed and 826 were injured. counter attacks between groups of Lou comment publicly.10 The number of dead may actually Nuer and Murle. That conflict be higher as 356 people were provides an insight into the factors 18 - 23 April reported missing, some of whom contributing to inter-ethnic tension in • Lou Nuer youth from Uror were likely abducted. The violence South Sudan, as well as its tragic County attacked Pibor County. In left 31,096 people homeless and Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan 3

displaced. The attackers stole about in some cases led to further violence They disarm them and give them 38,000 head of cattle. rather than achieving security. John to the payam administration and • Humanitarian agencies working in Ashworth, a South Sudan expert who the administrator may be a the area were also affected as their has lived here for 28 years and is now member of that specific buildings were set on fire, advising the SCC on the peace process community. So a community including a clinic in Pieri. The in Jonglei, said, ‘Right from the start it member can come and take the attackers also looted a World Food was a complete mess, because they guns and maybe give some cows Programme warehouse that held disarmed one group and not another. in exchange. enough food to feed about 2,000 It was absolute chaos.’18 people for one month.15 The Even government officials have Poorly paid police did little to stop the primary school in Pieri was also acknowledged the programme’s flow of arms, he alleged: “They also sell burnt down.16 failure. For example, the Minister of guns to civilians, because they don’t Interior said: have anything to eat.” According UNMISS officials A and B, The Lou Nuer were also able to the 2011 attacks are directly related to Disarmament has been a problem, obtain weapons from George Athor, a an outbreak of violence between the because it was not handled well. militia leader with forces based nearby, two groups in 2009. More than 1,000 First, it was done partially. As a according to Nyuon: people died during that conflict, result, you disarm one group including 750 in one week-long battle leaving the other group. The other Some Lou Nuer youth did get in March.17 UNMISS officials A and group will go and try to revenge guns from him because he doesn’t B, who both have strong knowledge of on those who are disarmed. want this government. So, Lou the conflict in Jonglei, said that Secondly, we did not handle the Nuer youth did go into the bush although the peace process was arms, which were collected, in a and collaborate with George delayed, the conflict subsided. They proper way. So the same arms go Athor. Some also got guns from attributed this partly to increased back (to the communities).19 the SPLA. Now the Lou Nuer security around the 2010 elections, as and the Murle are equal in terms well as the January 2011 independence Although the minister was speaking of access to guns. referendum. UNMISS official B said, about the situation in South Sudan in ‘There was a sense somehow that this general, his comments could be The involvement of Athor in this problem had gone away.’ applied directly to the recent conflict conflict points to one of the many The problem had not gone away, between the Murle and the Lou Nuer. destabilizing effects militia groups have and it flared up again the month Gatwech Koak Nyuon, a member in South Sudan. Athor is a former following the referendum. The 2011 of the Nuer Peace Council who SPLA officer who rebelled after losing attacks outlined above reflect long- investigated the attacks in Uror the election for governor of Jonglei in standing tension between these two County, said the government disarmed 2010. Before his defection he was the communities. There are also broader the Lou Nuer in February 2006, but SPLA’s divisional commander in factors that have exacerbated the left the Murle with their weapons. He Jonglei and previously the division troubled relationship. These include the said, ‘When they disarmed the Lou commander in state. easy availability of weapons and a lack Nuer, the Murle got an advantage to According to the Geneva-based Small of security. Extreme poverty raid cattle from the Lou Nuer.”20 Arms Survey (SAS). ‘He was also underdevelopment are also key to The Lou Nuer did not have involved in a violent SPLA-led civilian understanding the violence. And there difficulty rearming themselves, Nyuon disarmament campaign in 2006, which are cultural and political factors as well. said. When the interior minister claimed more than 1,500 lives.’21 mentioned a flawed system of storing Another SAS report cites ‘strong A nation awash with arms, he was referring to the fact that circumstantial evidence that the forces weapons collected by the Sudan of … George Athor have received weapons Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) were logistical and material support After two decades of civil kept in the same areas rather than including small arms and ammunition, war, small arms are being transferred to a central storage from Khartoum and other external ubiquitous throughout South facility. And Nyuon pointed out that sources’.22 The government of Omar al- Sudan. A disarmament programme officials in those areas were often Bashir in Sudan has repeatedly been begun in 2005 has been almost members of the dominant ethnic accused of backing militia groups in universally condemned as a failure that group. He said: South Sudan in an attempt to 4 Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan destabilize the new nation. If the County, because that’s where the fight the militia commander David circumstantial evidence linking Athor cattle were taken. Yauyau, who launched a revolt after to Khartoum is true, the regime in losing the 2010 elections. Yauyau is an Sudan has not only succeeded in Both counties are extremely remote ethnic Murle, and according to Small backing an anti-government militia, with only a small presence of Arms Survey, his rebellion seemed but it has also indirectly helped fuel government authorities and police. ‘linked to the intense rift between two ethnic violence between the Lou Nuer The Uror County Authority called on Murle factions’. and the Murle. However no concrete the government to deploy SPLA The presence of uniforms and evidence has emerged to support the resources to prevent further attacks. trained fighters may not indicate that thesis that youth on either side were The incident report 24 dated 27 August SPLA soldiers were actually involved in supplied with weapons by the 2011 stated: the attacks in June and August, but the Khartoum regime. perception was there, said UNMISS Military aircraft (helicopter) official B. should be deployed for The accusation was repeated by The security vacuum reconnaissance in between the Yangyang, a chief from the community One of the main difficulties counties’ frontiers to avoid cattle of Karyak who was interviewed in in disarming the civilian rustling, child abduction Pibor.25 He said many of the attackers population is the lack of activities and killing of innocent were wearing not only SPLA uniforms dependable security. Ashworth said, people in the future. but police uniforms as well. He said it ‘One condition that has to be there is was unprecedented that cattle raiders for people to feel safe. Until there is a Since the conflict ran from the had spent weeks carrying out attacks in security structure in place and people beginning of February to mid-August, Murle territory. feel safe, they will want to take the law the SPLA might have been expected to Hilde Johnson, the UNSG special into their own hands.’ step in and provide security at some representative, noted that the June and The Lou Nuer, for example, point during that period. Several August attacks from both sides were decided to rearm because they could interviewees condemned the failure of carried out in a military fashion. She not depend on local security forces for the government to send troops in, said: protection, according to Nyuon. The while others suggested that SPLA Uror County Authority said in its soldiers themselves were involved in The scary part of the Jonglei crisis assessment that the Murle attackers the attacks. While it has not been is that both in June with the numbered between 3,000 and 4,000 disproved, there is no evidence to attack on the Murle outside Pibor heavily-armed young men, while each support that accusation. and in Pieri by the Murle against payam has only about 15 police The Uror County Authority’s the Lou Nuer – in both cases we officers stationed there.23 incident report said: saw very large scale movement in According to Murle community army-like fashion, new arms, new members, that offensive was mounted The attackers have reported to be weapons, and thuraya (satellite) as a response to repeated attacks and between 3,000 to 4,000 men phones. This is not normal cattle cattle raiding by Lou Nuer youth in approximately and were in rustling; this is something way their areas between 2 and 18 of June. military uniforms. … The Murle beyond that and it is something Simon Gain, the Presbyterian pastor were armed with AK 47 (assault that is extremely worrisome. from Pibor who has represented his rifles) and light machine guns community in the SCC-backed peace and rocket propelled grenades. Johnson said a strong SPLA presence meetings, said the Murle waited for in Jonglei, along with peacekeeping the government to step in and provide During his investigation in the troops from the UN Mission for South protection and force the Nuer to aftermath of the attack, Nyuon of the Sudan (UNMISS), is key to stopping return their stolen cattle. He said: Nuer Peace Council said he saw SPLA the cycle of violence there. uniforms on bodies of Murle killed in Ashworth, the advisor to the SCC, By then the Murle lost a lot of the attack. explained that the SPLA has a strong cattle, people were killed and UNMISS official A said, ‘It’s not command and control structure at children were abducted. Nobody surprising, because uniforms are all higher levels. But that structure has (from the government) visited over.’ Some of those uniforms may been weakened on the ground in some them; nobody talked to them. So have been provided to Murle youth areas because of the government’s they went and attacked Uror who were recruited by the SPLA to policy of incorporating militia groups Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan 5 into the army as a peace-building He noted the high degree of widely characterized by strategy. Included among the Murle illiteracy and suggested the smallholder ownership of livestock and Lou Nuer fighters he said, ‘There government build a vocational training across the region. This implies could well have been what are now institute in the region to teach skills that if optimal livestock farming SPLA soldiers who were militia before.’ such as construction, which do not is extensively undertaken, it has Indeed, members of both require literacy. Nyuon also suggested great potential in the creation of communities were recruited into agriculture as another means of employment and can make a huge militia groups during the civil war. The employment, although he noted that impact on poverty alleviation.28 Khartoum-backed Pibor Defence the government would need to Force was largely Murle and Khartoum construct roads to allow farmers to get The study looked at cattle as well as also backed a Lou Nuer militia crops to market. Although some cattle other livestock such as poultry to assess organized by the commander Simon herders may resist switching to the feasibility of creating a viable Gatwech. While both groups fought agriculture, he noted that some groups livestock industry in the SPLA, they also clashed with each of Murle are farmers. state. The study notes that the other.26 Ashworth was more sceptical, government’s investment policy There appears to be little to noting that projects attempting to prioritizes agriculture and provides discourage cattle raiders and militia convince herders to switch to farming incentives for private investors such as groups from carrying out further have failed in the past. He said tax exemptions and access to land to attacks. Despite the fact that large pastoralist culture does not create a be provided by the national and local numbers of people are killed, only work ethic that is easily integrated into governments. Once again, the study cursory investigations appear to be a market-oriented society. He said, notes that developing the industry carried out by South Sudanese ‘The cattle people don’t have a culture depends on enforcing security: authorities and UNMISS. Even the of work. You’re not going to want to numbers of casualties differ according become a construction worker, or a This study recommends that in to the source. Nor are the perpetrators plumber, or a mechanic.” order to create an attractive brought to justice. This highlights the According to the UN’s Food and investment atmosphere, issues of weakness of the security and judicial Agricultural Organization (FAO) insecurity must be dealt with systems. about 80 percent of South Sudan’s from the highest levels of policy. A approximately 8-million people clear policy and regulatory depend on cattle for survival. George framework for control and Developing peace Okech, head of the FAO in South enforcement of mechanisms for Jonglei is the largest state in Sudan, said a cow or bull can fetch eliminating insecurity will help in South Sudan, with many between $300 and $800.27 With an creating an enabling environment extremely remote estimated 11-million head of cattle in conducive for investment in the communities, in one of the world’s the country, some have suggested a livestock sector. poorest nations. Community livestock industry could be a massive representatives assert that Pibor and source of employment as well as Developing the agriculture sector is Uror are among the least developed fulfilling a need on the domestic consistently touted by South Sudanese counties in the state. Interviewees said market, and potentially an export. officials as a way to wean the country the areas lack adequate schools and A November 2011 study by the away from dependency on oil, which health care facilities, and residents Netherlands Development Agency, currently provides 98 percent of the suffer from chronic food insecurity. which was commissioned by the budget. Certainly, the sector holds During the rainy season, the areas are Ministry of Animal Resources and promise. Much of the land in South inaccessible by road, which makes it Fisheries, notes that the livestock Sudan is very fertile and could difficult for government to respond to sector constitutes about 18 percent of potentially supply not only local security incidents and also stalls the East African region’s agricultural markets, but goods for export as well. economic development. GDP. It states: The sector could become a tremendous Nyuon said that disarmament source of employment. alone would not prevent youth from The proportion contributed by Agricultural development must be engaging in violence. He said, ‘When livestock to agricultural GDP has approached with caution however. disarming, you also need to create risen by about two percentage Already there are signs that communities employment opportunities for youth, points over the last decade. are being bypassed by companies because they will be idle.” However, this subsector is still making deals with politicians who fail to 6 Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan consult their constituencies. In a report and Uror counties and said, ‘Some of will not think about cattle raiding any released 22 September 2011, Oxfam that will come down to NGOs and more.’ International estimated that 36 percent donors. Are they willing to do Kolen, who fled with his family to of the population is food insecure. It development in these areas?’ hide in the bush during the attacks, noted that foreign companies, Ashworth cited education as a key said children in the area want to go to governments and individuals sought or component to development and peace- school but they lack access. He said, acquired nearly 10 percent of the building. He said, ‘At least education ‘We have few schools, we don’t have country’s land mass for agriculture, gives people something to do and enough schools for our community.’ biofuel and forestry projects. The report education is valued in South Sudan, He said education would lead stated, ‘South Sudan’s newest challenge, and as South Sudan develops it will people to explore employment options which could derail its long-term socio- need more educated people.’ other than raising cattle. Already there economic prospects, is large-scale land He also recommended the is evidence of this in Lekuangole town. acquisitions.’29 construction of youth centres as a way He said, ‘There are some people who Even if agricultural development to keep young people occupied in a come from villages who are now was carried out in a responsible constructive manner. Nyuon also traders, they opened up small shops.’ manner, some experts warn that it mentioned youth centres, and added Others work for NGOs. He said, could be hard to convince pastoralists that they could be points of contact ‘They changed their life completely to abandon their traditional way of between Lou Nuer and Murle youth. and they are not going back again.’ life. Ashworth expressed scepticism He said, ‘When you build a youth In order to decrease competition that pastoralists would easily take to a centre they can interact together. They for resources, Kolen also encouraged market oriented approach to cattle can build a friendship also.’ the government to create more water herding. Instead, he said, cattle have a Ashworth said very little access points. He said: deeply symbolic meaning in herder development has been done in either cultures. He said, ‘Cattle are wealth. the Lou Nuer and Murle communities. There are two things that make They don’t breed cattle for a use. They But he noted that the Murle in Pibor people fight: lack of water and the drink the milk, but they’re not bred were particularly isolated geographically. need for grazing land. These for slaughter, for meat.’ Compounding this is that they are a make people fight and go cattle But Simon Gain, the pastor minority group that suffers raiding. In the dry season people involved in peace negotiations, said discrimination, which has removed go find water from far places and attitudes are changing. He said: them from the chain of development sometimes they meet and fight. If funding. He said, ‘They feel very there is water near any tribe, they If you go to Pibor, young people marginalized from development. It goes don’t need to move. now understand. When we are through Bor (the state capital), so it talking in Pibor about it they like goes through the hands of the Dinka Mary Jowang, who survived a June the idea. But sometimes people ask, before it reaches them.’ attack in Karyak, also called on the ‘Where is the market? Where is the South Sudan’s deputy minister of government to provide more services. security?’ Because when taking the information, Atem Yaak Atem, also She said, ‘We need water in our cows to market in Juba somebody noted that the Murle are particularly villages and schools for those coming comes with an AK 47 and starts marginalized and suggested this could generations, because our time has shooting and takes your cows. be one cause of their engagement in passed but we need a future for our conflict. He said measures could be children.’32 He cited road construction as the key taken to address this, such as ‘a special means of improving security as well as fund for education in the Murle bringing cattle to market via lorries. community’. He said, ‘If you The politics of ethnicity Ashworth suggested a more introduce formal education into these Ashworth noted that the general approach to development, communities maybe in 20 years they Murle in particular are rather than trying to steer a culture will catch up. And they will start marginalized not only into appropriating different lifestyles. asking for schools, for roads.’30 through lack of development, but from He said, ‘Culture will change as Simon Kolen, a primary school the political system as well. As a development comes, as education teacher in Lekuangole town, which minority group in a country that tends comes.’ was attacked in June, also emphasized to vote along ethnic lines, the Murle He noted the remoteness and the need for education.31 He said, ‘We stand to elect fewer representatives, insecurity that characterizes both Pibor will change if there is education. They and their MPs do not tend to be Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan 7 appointed to positions of power. He community took action once the raiding when their own herds suffer said, ‘At a national level there are Murle counter-attacked in August. Gai from disease, He said, ‘If a disease were plenty of Nuer, but you won’t find attributed this to the fact that Lou to come by and wipe (out) these many Murle if any.’ The Murle are Nuer had more educated community (cattle), they would easily be tempted also under-represented at a state level, members working for NGOs who to go to the neighbouring county and he added. were able to raise the alarm in the try and get animals from there. And There are ways for the government international media as well as among that would definitely be a cause of to address this deficit of minority humanitarian groups and the conflict.’ members in political positions, government. Ashworth said that war has also Ashworth said. The president has the The lack of response has left eroded traditional values, making power to appoint senators, for example. bitterness among Murle community violence more likely than it was He also pointed to an idea floated by members. David Ngachgat, from traditionally. He said, ‘In some areas Peter Adwok Nyaba, a South Sudanese Lekuangole, said the SPLA in a nearby elders and chiefs have less influence author and intellectual. Nyaba garrison failed to take action in June.34 and young men with guns have more.’ suggested creating an Upper House of But he noted that the fighting in Alfred Lokuji, the dean of the Parliament which would include two August generated a response from the Department of Community Studies representatives from each of the government as well as UNMISS. He and Rural Development at Juba country’s ethnic groups. Ashworth said, said: University, agreed. He said, ‘War ‘It didn’t find a lot of favour with those broke down traditional authority, that who held power.’ Are we not part of this nation of is the crux of the problem. The more Pastor Gain said politics can also South Sudan? If we are part of it, militarized it became, the greater the exacerbate tensions between ethnic why are we not protected like breakdown.’ 36 groups. He said, ‘Sometimes the other tribes? When the Lou Nuer He said that, during its war against election loser stirs up violence and attacks three times I did not hear the Khartoum regime, the leadership resentment toward the election anybody from the government of of the SPLA institutionalized the winner.’ Such politicians play up Jonglei say anything. But when power of military commanders over perceived ethnic grievances, he added. we attacked them, both the traditional authority figures. The SPLA An assessment carried out in Uror government and the international placed officers in administrative included the recommendation: community put their eyes on the positions in areas under its control. Lou and provided assistance. For example, a county commissioner Politicians should stop inciting would have to answer to a superior tribal conflicts for cheap political officer. He said, ‘The soldier in turn gains. They need to bring together Cultural factors gradually sensed a social ranking that both the Murle elders and the Clashes between pastoralists placed him above a chief.’ Lou Nuer elders in Uror for a are not new to the region and Meanwhile, Lokuji said, rebel peaceful settlement of the conflict. often spike in the dry season militia commanders have capitalized when herders must range far afield to upon the breakdown of traditional A Lou Nuer politician who attended a find grassland and water for their cattle. power structures. Athor, for example, peace meeting in Pibor responded to But decades of war have heightened the has said he is fighting on behalf of his accusations voiced by participants that level of violence and the dangers of tribe, but he has no traditional the state government did not respond cattle rustling attacks. Ashworth said, authority to do so. According to to them because they were Murle. Riak ‘It’s been going on forever. It hasn’t Lokuji militia commanders capitalized Gai, a former Jonglei governor and always had the heavy weapons it has from systems of power that emerged current member of the national now. That’s the difference.’ during the war, while masking their assembly, said people should hold their Exacerbating the problem of cattle actions in the rhetoric of tribe. He own politicians to account, suggesting rustling is the sky-rocketing bride price, said, ‘These are individuals who are the political representatives from the which is paid in cows. In a cattle camp products of the system that is larger communities could have done more to in Terekeka, about 50 miles outside than their tribe.’ advocate for their constituencies.33 South Sudan’s capital, Juba, Angelo He added, ‘While tribe may He also responded to criticism that Waranyang said he would need to pay provide excellent cover for native sons, the government did not respond to the 45 head of cattle to obtain a bride.35 and native sons take cover from tribe, June attacks against the Murle but Okech, head of the FAO, said it does not mean that tribe drives both the government and international young men are more likely to go cattle native sons.’ 8 Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan

James Ninrew, a Presbyterian for us, but our concern is killing of first objective was to secure some pastor and member of the Nuer Peace children, women and elderly people.’ truce, during which people could Council who is involved in the peace Martha Korok, from Lekuangole, be engaged in reflecting on the process, said a warrior ethos that is also stated that children and women causes, grave consequences of especially strong among the Murle also were not targeted in previous attacks attacks and counter attacks and presents a challenge to the peace as they were in June.39 hopefully hear their genuine process. He said, ‘To show prestige UNMISS officials A and B noted feeling on the need for peace. So you must be very powerful.’ 37 This this change, which official B said could far that has been achieved.40 pressure among young Murle men mark a disturbing cultural change. leads them to act independently of While in the past cattle rustling was He acknowledged the support of directives from elders. Thus he said, guided by a code that saw male UNMISS in transporting peace there is a breakdown in discussions warriors clash, he said: delegations by air to villages across the between the Lou Nuer and the Murle. region. And he said UNICEF had He said, ‘You talk to the leaders and I think what is happened is assisted in negotiating the release of a they are very nice and you have a good you’re getting a destruction of a woman and two children by the Lou understanding. But they don’t take it a code of warriors. It’s not just men Nuer ‘as a goodwill gesture to the step down to implement.’ fighting men. Now they are Murle’. Aside from cattle rustling, child targeting women and children, Peace meetings have been held in abduction has long been practised by what you need to do is re- communities in both affected areas. some ethnic groups, particularly some establish the code of warriors. The goal of these is to achieve in Jonglei, according to a 2010 study agreement on a negotiating position to by the Rift Valley Institute. The report UNMISS official B expressed be discussed by community stated: ‘In Jonglei, those involved in scepticism that a simple ban on cattle representatives who were scheduled to child abduction – as perpetrators, raiding, a traditional activity embedded meet between 12 and 14 December. victims or both – are drawn primarily in some cultures, would work. Rather, The meeting was postponed due to a from three ethnic groups: Dinka, Nuer he said a more effective strategy would flare up of violence in Jonglei in and Murle.’ 38 be to get pastoralist communities to December, particularly a 5 December The report goes on to state: agree on rules of engagement that attack by Murle youth on Dinka would reflect traditional norms. He communities in Bor South County Abduction of children by Murle characterized these as a localized version and , which killed has been linked in the historical of the Geneva conventions, which lay more than 40 people. At the time of literature to low fertility in Murle out the rules of engagement for publication, a new date for the peace communities, and this has been international conflict. He recognized meeting had not been set. Before the 5 alleged to be the result of the that such an idea may be rejected by December attacks, Ashworth noted prevalence of sexually transmitted many, but he said, ‘Back off human that, despite peace-building efforts, diseases (STDs). This study rights and give us some practicality.’ stability was tenuous. He said: confirms that there is low population growth in Murle In a way this is fire fighting. We society and that the Murle The peace process hope we will make a deal with themselves are concerned about The peace process is being led by the them to stop fighting. This is not low fertility rates. However a SCC, partly due to the fact really long-term peace-building. causal link between STDs and low that there was little response … We want to cap the recent fertility and a clear correlation from the government during fighting. We want to put a stop to between these phenomena and the the months of fighting between the the revenge cycle and then see if practice of child abduction has yet Murle and the Lou Nuer. Gachora we can implement a broader to be established. Ngunjiri is a member of the SCC who peace process. … We need to is involved in coordinating peace expand this throughout the state. Interviewees pointed out that many meetings. He said: women and children were abducted Indeed, according to a recent OCHA during the recent conflict between the The SCC was drawn into the humanitarian bulletin: Lou Nuer and the Murle. Mary scene by the failure to act on the Jowang, from Karyak in Pibor County, part of the agencies on the …unconfirmed reports were said, ‘Cattle raiding is not a new thing ground: state and non-state. Our received of community youths on Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan 9

the move in northern Bor and Conclusion Few would argue with Johnson’s Duk counties, leading to women The peace process that is statement. Yet it will take more than and children in some areas fleeing ongoing has been effective in words, and even more of a due to fears of attack. It is stopping the attacks and commitment from national and thought the youths are from counter-attacks – for now. A long international actors, to stop the cycle remote areas of Pibor County that term solution will require significant of violence. The challenges, of course, are unaware of the ongoing peace investment in development, security are monumental. As this briefing has processes between the Murle and and rule of law, as well as continued noted, Jonglei is in desperate need of Lou Nuer communities. … dialogue between the two groups. The development in virtually all sectors in December is considered a key communities must be provided with order attain peace between ethnic month for Jonglei State in terms better access to education and health groups. In the short term, however, of the security and humanitarian care. Roads must be built to link these more effort could be put into carrying situation as youths who have remote regions to more populated out investigations into attacks such as given peace a chance have agreed centres in order to spur economic those discussed in this briefing. only to keep the peace until development and promote security. The number of people killed in December. In addition, a Ninrew of the Nuer Peace Council Jonglei in 2011 is shocking. Massacres government-organized civilian stressed the importance of providing on a much smaller scale in different disarmament exercise is planned more resources to the police, including countries have prompted investigations for December.41 more police posts, radios and vehicles. that led to prosecutions. Yet, in Jonglei He said, ‘Without that, no matter how the perpetrators of such crimes go UNMISS officials A and B said the many peace talks you have, no matter unpunished; thus there is little current peacekeeping in Jonglei is how many agreements are signed, deterrent to those who would launch directly related to lessons learned from nothing will happen really.’ future attacks. The 5 December attack, past efforts that failed to prevent His words were underscored by the for example, prompted UNMISS to clashes in March 2009 and related 5 December attacks, which derailed launch an investigation.45 Yet, the 9 attacks earlier this year. They said the peace process. The UN noted that December statement from UNMISS UNMISS responded immediately to most of the 40 people killed were contained little information beyond the August attack, sending in women, children and the elderly. The that reported by media in the helicopters to evacuate victims for attackers also burned buildings and immediate aftermath of the attack. medical attention. Now the strategy stole livestock.42 Hopefully, further investigations will sees Blue Helmets touching down in After the attack, Ninrew said yield more information such as the remote areas which they may patrol for George Athor, the militia leader would exact number of people killed. But a week or so at a time before moving likely capitalize on the incident by investigations into past incidents have on. Other teams are brought in by recruiting young men who would seek left wide knowledge gaps, certainly too helicopter in to areas for a few days at arms in order to fight the Murle.43 wide to base a court case upon. a time to do security assessments. Simon Gain expressed the same The valuable contributions of UNMISS official B said: concern.44 UNMISS and other national and On 9 December, UNMISS international actors to the peace- ‘The idea is to move around so released a statement condemning the building process should not be people don’t know where we are – attack. The UN Secretary General’s underestimated. Yet increased efforts our footprint gets much larger. … Special Representative to South are needed to achieve the long term You need to get even deeper in the Sudan, Hilde Johnson said: goal of lasting peace. Many field. A lot of these guys (carrying interviewees suggested that the out attacks) are out in the cattle This cycle of violence has to stop. situation in Jonglei is at a critical camps, not in the towns. While respecting their need to point. This point was underscored by protect themselves, the the 5 December attack. If In response to a question about communities of Jonglei should be peacebuilding efforts are not whether peacekeepers work jointly encouraged to refrain from strengthened, the cycle of violence will with the SPLA, UNMISS official B mobilizing their fighters since this not only continue, but could actually said, ‘There’s a lot of background will only perpetuate the grisly cycle get worse. debate about how close we should get of mass violence and retaliation. with the SPLA. The SPLA is not always seen as a neutral player.’ 10 Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan

Recommendations support to conduct full the current process with offers of investigations; support for monitoring of Security and access to justice ■ Government should ensure that compliance with agreements, and ■ UNMISS should strengthen its the SPLA and police act – and are targeted financial support to presence throughout Jonglei, perceived to act - with scrupulous implement specific items, and including in remote regions, and fairness to all communities. Efforts where appropriate, follow-up develop its capacity to monitor should be made to recruit members meetings between the parties. movements of armed groups; of all ethnic groups into the police ■ Government, donors and civil ■ Government should hold and SPLA to improve the society should make efforts to bring consultations with representatives perception of equal treatment; youth in both communities into of affected communities to explore ■ Donors and UNMISS should contact through programmes such options for improving security, provide technical expertise to as education and income including through measures to support investigations and generation programmes and improve trust and information conducting court cases, for sporting events; sharing between communities, example in forensic evidence SPLA and police; collection and handling. Development ■ The police and judiciary should ■ Government, donors and civil carry out effective investigations Peace-building society should set up alternative into all acts of violence, including ■ Civil society, Churches, donors livelihoods programmes to train cattle rustling, and prosecute the and government should support a youth and provide micro-financing perpetrators according to process of replicating and for small businesses; international standards of due legal expanding the peace process ■ Funding should be provided from process. Investigations should between the Lou Nuer and the the national government to the include interviews with witnesses as Murle to other ethnic groups in state government in Jonglei to be well as the collection of forensic Jonglei; directed towards road construction; evidence to be used in court cases. ■ The government, donors and ■ Donors and government should Police and courts must be provided UNMISS should support any make education a focal point for with adequate resources and peace agreements coming out of development efforts. Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan 11

Notes 15 OCHA Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 32 MRG interview, Pibor, 25 November 25 August 2011 2011 16 Incident report by Uror County 33 Comments recorded by an MRG 1 The pattern of marginalization and its Authority researcher at a peace meeting in Pibor, relation to conflict has been 17 International Crisis Group, ‘Jonglei’s 24 November 2011 documented by numerous historians, Tribal Conflicts: Countering Insecurity 34 MRG interview, Pibor, 25 November including Douglas Johnson in “The In South Sudan’, 23 December 2009 2011 Root Causes of Sudan’s Civil Wars”, 18 MRG interview with John Ashworth, 35 MRG interview, Terekeka, 27 published by Indiana University Press, advisor to the SCC, Juba, Nov 14 September 2011 2003 19 Statement made at a press conference 36 Comments made by Alfred Lokuji, dean 2 Statement made at a press conference attended by MRG, Juba, 27 September of the Department of Community attended by MRG, Juba, 28 September 2011 Studies and Rural Development at Juba 2011 20 MRG interview with Gatwech Koak University, at an MRG-organized 3 Radio Miria, ‘3,000 killed in inter-ethnic Nyuon, of the Nuer Peace Council, roundtable discussion, Juba, 17 clashes in Jonglei State’, included in Juba, 15 November 2011 November 2011 UNMISS media monitoring report, 18 21 Small Arms Survey Human Security 37 MRG interview, Juba, 21 November November 2011 Baseline Assessment, April 2011 2011 4 UN OCHA, ‘Humanitarian Action in 22 Small Arms Survey Human Security 38 Stephanie Riak Akuei and John Jok, Southern Sudan Report’, 20 November Baseline Assessment, November 2011 ‘Child Abduction in Jonglei and Central 2009 23 Incident report by Uror County Equatoria states, Southern Sudan’, 5 International Crisis Group, ‘Jonglei’s Authority published by the Rift Valley Institute, Tribal Conflicts: Countering Insecurity In 24 Incident report by Uror County November 2010 South Sudan’, 23 December 2009 Authority 39 MRG interview, Pibor, 6 Incident report by Uror County 25 MRG interview, Pibor, 25 November 25 November 2011 Authority, provided to MRG by UNMISS 2011 40 MRG interview, Gachora Ngunjirir, SCC, 7 OCHA Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 26 International Crisis Group, ‘Jonglei’s via email 16 November 2011 25 August 2011 Tribal Conflicts: Countering Insecurity 41 OCHA South Sudan Weekly 8 OCHA Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, In South Sudan’, 23 December 2009 Humanitarian Bulletin, 4-10 November 25 August 2011 27 MRG interview, with George Okech, 2011 9 MRG interview with Gatwech Koak Terekeka, 27 September 2011 42 UNMISS Press Statement, Nyuon, of the Nuer Peace Council, 28 Livestock Investment Options 9 December 2011 Juba, 15 November 2011 Feasibility Study for Eastern Equatoria, 43 MRG interview, Juba, 8 December 2011 10 MRG interviews, Juba, 22 by the Netherlands Development 44 MRG interview, Juba, November 2011 Organization, released November 2011 10 December 2011 11 OCHA Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 29 ‘Land and Power: The growing scandal 45 UN News Centre, ‘Dozens killed in 25 August 2011 surrounding the new wave of latest round of ethnic violence in South 12 MRG interview with Simon Gain, investments in land’, Oxfam briefing Sudan – UN Mission’, 6 December Presbyterian pastor from Pibor, Juba, paper, 22 September 2011 2011, http://www.un.org/apps/news/ 14 November 2011 30 MRG interview, Atem Yaak Atem, story.asp?NewsID=40641, accessed 13 OCHA Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, deputy information minister, Juba, 6 December 2011 25 August 2011 5 October 2011 14 OCHA Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 31 MRG interview, Juba, 26 November 25 August 2011 2011 Boma Development Initiative Report

Community Perspectives on the Lou Nuer / Murle conflict in South Sudan By Jared Ferrie

The conflict between Lou Nuer and Murle in Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non- Jonglei State, South Sudan, has caused many governmental organization (NGO) working to secure the hundreds of deaths in 2011. Some fear that it is rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and entering a seemingly endless revenge cycle. In this briefing, indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote a wide range of actors concerned by the conflict – cooperation and understanding between communities. community representatives, Church and NGO activists, United Nations staff and other experts are interviewed to Our activities are focused on international advocacy, ascertain their views and recommendations for resolving training, publishing and outreach. We are guided by the the conflict. Concrete and detailed recommendations for needs expressed by our worldwide partner network of improving security and access to justice for victims, and organizations, which represent minority and indigenous strengthening conflict prevention, are made to government, peoples. civil society and donors. The briefing draws on interviews carried out in Juba and Jonglei State in November and This briefing has been produced with the financial December 2011, as well as on desk research. assistance of the European Union and Irish Aid. The contents of this briefing are sole responsibility of Boma Development Initiative is a community-based Boma Development Initiative and Minority Rights Group organisation, based in Boma town, Pibor County, South International, and can under no circumstances be regarded Sudan, which implements development, human rights and as reflecting the position of the European Union and peace-building initiatives with the various ethnic groups in Irish Aid. the Boma area. It is registered with the South Sudan Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development.

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