Reaching into Nanaam – dynamics of remote GPAA

The peace engagement in Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) continues in the face of active mobilisation attempts led by some factions of armed youth leadership in Jonglei. From 24 April to 1 May, a delegation of community leaders, supported by a combined team from Nonviolent Peaceforce and Peace Canal, visited communities in the Nanaam area of GPAA.

The peace engagement in Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) continues in the face of active mobilisation attempts led by some factions of armed youth leadership in Jonglei.

From 24 April to 1 May, a delegation of community leaders, supported by a combined team from Nonviolent Peaceforce and Peace Canal, visited communities in the Nanaam area of GPAA. The community had squarely identified this region as the source of ongoing attacks into neighbouring Jonglei communities. These attacks had seriously undermined confidence in the Piera Action for Peace and communities were fearing an imminent mobilisation from Lou Nuer and Bor Dinka communities in response.

The deeper regions of Nanaam are notoriously difficult to reach, which has made accessing the youth behind the violence extremely difficult. Few local communities have been visited by development or humanitarian agencies, with effective road access very limited and many agencies also constrained by perceived security risks to such remote areas.

“We are grateful to the peace partners who have visited us in Wuno. No one has ever visited. It is the first time, and we hope it won’t be the last. You have brought hope.”

Vorgol, Kurenen Leader and Son of Red Chief

Added to the physical access challenges, the diffuse structure of the Murle communities means there is no unified command to the armed youth. Though the lineage of the Red Chiefs is critical to authority and legitimacy in decision-making, this authority is distributed widely across the communities.

The engagements with the Kongor and Monychak in and around Wuno youth were productive. The trip also generated a clearer sense that local communities need to desist from raiding and attacks on neighbouring communities. Youth leaders, including from among the sons of Red Chiefs, talked about hunger and a general lack of services for their communities, and straightforwardly explained that food insecurity at particular times of year was the main driver of their raiding into neighbouring communities.

They also wanted to continue to build trust with Nuer, requesting further meetings with Lou youth counterparts. They recognised and appreciated that the Nuer have kept open the door for peace despite all the attacks. Youth were aware of the Pieri agreement and acknowledged the shame they brought to their leaders by not working for peace. Paramount chiefs spoke of their shame before other communities, a feeling that they are liars because their youth are not adhering to the peace rituals. Equally, they noted that not all youth have not been involved in any form of raiding or attack, that generally the community had lived peacefully and not sought conflict with its neighbours.

The community advocated strongly for local government and humanitarian agencies to set up a presence in Nanaam, citing Wuno as a key strategic centre that would enable sustained engagement with youth in the Nanaam area generally. Meeting participants felt that too much time was spent in Bor and other key centres, which failed to support an equitable peace. A new emphasis was needed centred on building local government, UN and NGO presence in Nanaam to support the youth and continue to dissuade further violence during the next dry season. With improved road access, they said, the effectiveness of service delivery could improve rapidly.

Women and elders were especially vocal in meetings, warning youth against carrying out further attacks against neighbouring societies. They were particularly concerned about levels of hunger in the area and linked the need for their areas to be peaceful to permit the delivery of WFP food supplies.

Returning to one of the main dividends of the Pieri Agreement, community leaders also wanted a resumption of the process that resulted in some abducted women and children being returned.

Red Chiefs have remained in Nanaam to continue the community engagement.

This project and associated threads of peacebuilding activities in Jonglei and GPAA are supported by Caritas Germany, Swiss Cooperation Office, the Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund (POF), the Reconciliation, Stabilisation and Resilience Trust Fund (RSRTF), Shejah Selam.

Peace Canal, as a partner in the peace process, has an interest in promoting positive narratives of peace, but aims to present balanced perspectives on progress.

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