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South Sudan Proposes Traditional Leadership Conference to End Conflicts
un articulo por Sudan Tribune
Juba, August 27, 2011 — The South Sudan government on Saturday proposed convening a conference with traditional leadership across the country to look for mechanisms to address the new country's various tribal conflicts.
The clashes between the Murle against the Lou Nuer ethnic group this month have killed over 600 people according to local officials. The Murle attack is in response to a Luo Nuer raid in June, which local activists say killed around 900 people. Cattle raids and revenge attacks between the neighboring tribes have resulted in the death of 1,000 people since January according to the UN.
In the same period the UN says tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes, and hundreds of women and children have been abducted from both communities.
If organised, the conference will be the Juba government's first major political event since Africa's 54th state was established in July. It would draw participation of paramount chiefs from all the ten states of South Sudan representing different cultures and tribes. Similar conventions were held in Bentiu of Unity State in 2008 and in the Upper Nile region but the resolutions were not implemented.
Murle chief Ismail Konyi told the press at South Sudan's parliament in Juba that he would support any programs and initiatives to foster peace and reconciliation.
Konyi said the interim constitution of South Sudan allows the Council of States - of which Konyi was one of the appointees - to legislate in order to promote a culture of peace, reconciliation and communal harmony among the peoples of South Sudan.
The all-appointed Council of States is the second branch of South Sudan's parliament, the National Legislative Assembly.
"Under article 60 (F) of part one in chapter five of the competence of the council of states in interim constitution of South Sudan, the council of states has a mandate to legislate a law aiming at promoting a culture of peace and reconciliation among the people", observed Konyi.
"There is no way to maintain peace in this country if we do not prioritise and support peace and conflict resolution programs through involving participation of the traditional leadership," Konyi told journalists on Saturday.
"I have been telling our traditional leaders and politicians that wars and ethnic fights can never end differences, instead they tend to cultivate animosity between brothers and sisters if appropriate measures are not taken to address them", explained Konyi.
The former presidential advisor on peace and reconciliation categorically stated that revenge does not resolve long standing differences and only makes things worse. He said that in his home state of Jonglei, the Dinka, Nuer and his own ethnic group - the Murle - have been engaged in attacks and counter attacks for decades.
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Can traditional leaders help countries to overcome conflicts?,
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