Communal Tensions and Grievances in Nyirol County Peacefully Resolved
Rising Tensions Between the Cie-Matchuk and Cie-Thay
In April 2022, tensions rose between the Cie-Matchuk and Cie-Thay clans of Nyirol county (Northern Jonglei) over the appointment of a new Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) Coordinator. The previous coordinator hailed from the Cie-Thay clan and was controversially replaced by a member of the Cie-Matchuk clan, leading to resistance from the Cie-Thay clan and the forced closure of the RRC office. The two clans have a long-standing history of conflict with recent attempts at dialogue failing to bring them closer together.
Unresolved issues surfaced after a peace conference in Weideng from the 28th of April to the 2nd of May and did not provide the communities with satisfactory resolutions.
NP’s Role in Facilitating Peace
According to the community, the failure of this dialogue and the implementation of its agreements contributed an attempt at a dialogue on May 14-15. The dialogue was attended by over one-hundred participants, including community leadership, security duty bearers, NP trained women and youth protection teams, and partner organizations. NP prepared the groups through trainings on nonviolent conflict resolution and peacebuilding, emphasizing on the need to focus on interests and needs, rather than positions.
After the groups were prepared, NP facilitated shuttle diplomacy and supported the dialogue through protective presence. Taking NP’s training to heart, one of the male community leaders noted that conflict breeds revenge and incites more conflict:
“It is better we sit down like this as one people to discuss what makes us unhappy. If we decide to fight, there is no winner in fighting but it will lead to revenge and more fighting. In dialogue, everybody is a winner because everyone is listened to.”
The initiative demonstrates the salient role of listening to the opposing side when resolving differences and how to collectively address such differences.
In addition to addressing the most recent disagreement over the appointment of the RRC position, the dialogue was aimed at resolving the outstanding problems that surfaced during the Weideng conference, which was a large conference aimed at restoring peace between Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), and addressing internal conflict over leadership, revenge attacks, and control over resources.
Addressing Long-standing Issues: Cattle Compensation and Accountability
As such, the discussions during Pulturuk dialogue also addressed the primary outstanding resolution:
“Compensation for any outstanding cattle and killings will be agreed by the communities; violent reclaiming of cattle will be considered a grievance and the perpetrators will be held accountable.”
Through discussions that were facilitated by NP on peacebuilding and nonviolent conflict resolution, it was revealed that the failure to fulfillment on this resolution continued to fuel conflict between the Cie-Thay and Cie-Matchuk. As per the resolution, the Cie-Matchuk clan bore the responsibility of providing cattle to Cie-Thay as blood compensation for the killing of a Cie-Thay clan member. However, the blood compensation was not paid, contributing to continued distrust and tensions which culminated in disagreement over the RRC position.
Community Commitment to Peace
Following this revelation, both clans made a commitment to the commissioner, NP, and other parties present (local authorities, army commanders, women protection teams and youth protection teams), to implement the outstanding Weideng resolutions with immediate effect, and agreed to dissuade local youth from engaging in cattle raiding and from mobilizing to incite violence and raids. Furthermore, the chiefs agreed to take greater action on the collection of raided cattle from the community members involved in the raid, and the return of said cattle to their rightful owners. One of the paramount chiefs reaffirmed his commitment to peace, adding that he will control the random cattle raiding that is perpetrated by members of his community.
He stated, “I will make sure my community will follow the resolution from the Weideng conference and the dialogue of today. It is true when promises are broken it can lead to mistrust and fighting. My community will also stop raiding cattle as agreed for peace.”
Once the tensions over the lack of implementation of the Weideng conference agreements were resolved, the Cie-Thay community also accepted the appointment of the Cie-Matchuk member to the position of RRC coordinator. Furthermore, in ensuring their commitment to peaceful co-existence, community leaders from Pulturuk promised those present that they will embrace the peaceful resolutions of administrative disputes or any other disputes in the future.
NP will continue to support dialogues and strengthen community-led discussions to address and resolve inter-clan violence and promote peaceful coexistence in Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and monitor the implementation of such peace agreements in order to give support towards sustainable peace dialogues in the communities.