Gawaar and Murle leaders commit to peace

In March, the Pieri Action for Peace resolved that an implementation priority was the full inclusion in the process of the Gawaar Nuer in Ayod. This intention suffered a significant setback when youth in and around the Ayod area launched an attack into Greater Pibor in May. Whilst the human casualties and loss of cattle were relatively minor, Gumuruk in particular was devastated by the incursion; houses and shops destroyed, and emergency humanitarian assistance for the local people burned to the ground.

On the Gawaar side, the community has felt the unrelenting provocation of small scale opportunistic attacks by Murle youth who spend long periods in the bush, and whom Murle leaders say the peace message has not yet reached.

This is a critical disconnect between the peaceful intent of Murle leaders represented at peace talks and the violent, unsanctioned actions of geographically and sometimes socially peripheral youth. It has become the primary frustration for all parties (including the Murle) in the follow-up to the Pieri Conference.

Nonetheless, Gawaar and Murle leaders affirmed their commitment to the ongoing peace process, conducting the rituals that give legitimacy to the agreement. This spiritual and traditional component remains a key for the leaders. Spiritual leader Dak Kueth has been central to the foundations of the process. He called the spear ceremony in December 2020 that bound himself, the Minister of Peacebuilding Hon Stephen Par Kuol, Lou Youth Leader Liliy, Murle Youth Leader Turyal, Gumuruk Paramount Chief Gulech Wau and Executive Chief Logocho Moru.

Two months ago, the Murle armed youth leader, Turyal Peluk, died in Juba following a rapid deterioriation of his health. Another Paramount Chief was killed near Murle in an internal dispute. Whilst objectively unrelated to the violence, all sides perceive these deaths as a spiritual consequence of the ongoing failures to bring the border area violence under control. It was agreed in this dialogue that the next phase of talks needs also to engage the Gawaar spiritual leaders.

The Murle leaders accepted that they have been unable to bring the sporadic acts of violence under control, at the same time categorically affirming their ongoing commitment to finding a solution. An immediate step is to despatch a delegation of Red Chiefs to move through the outlying villages and directly engage the youth who are violating the agreement. In Ayod and Gumuruk, the women insisted, and the communities agreed, that women should also be central to this wider dissemination work. This requires the support of the peace partners, who the GPAA authorities say have been slow in responding to their requests.

“We want this peace more than you men because, in the end, we are the victims of the senseless conflict!”

Rebecca Lilcho, Gumuruk women’s leader

The leaders agreed that alongside the wider implementation of the Pieri Agreement, there should be a follow-up dialogue between Gawaar and Murle to consolidate and deepen the progress made in this first round of talks.

The wider peace talks continue from 22 November in Kongor, where 47 representatives of youth, traditional and women’s leadership will meet to follow-up on the June meeting of a smaller group. This will specifically address the question of ongoing criminal attacks. This is part of the interim work before the next meeting of the inter-communal governance structures in Lekuangole, due to take place in December.