USAID/OTI Sudan Hot Topics April 2006
Integrating the 'White Army': A Delicate Process
The overarching goal of the USAID/OTI Sudan program is to strengthen Sudanese confidence and capacity to address the causes and consequences of political marginalization, violence, and instability within the context of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Government of Sudan.
The OTI Sudan program focuses on promoting the emergence of responsive and effective civil authorities; providing opportunities for peaceful dialogue within and among communities; fostering the emergence of an active civil society; increasing the availability of quality, independent information; and protecting vulnerable populations from grave human rights violations and related abuses.
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| Traditonal Murle Dance in Celebration of the Successful Conclusion of the Peace Meeting in Gurumuk. |
The Upper Nile region has been severely affected by internal divisions and an overwhelming level of arms in the hands of civilians. During the war, youth were loosely organized, creating an irregular 'civil defense' force, which came to be known as 'Jiec in Boor', literally, the White Army. The Lou Nuer ethnic group, in particular, has been profoundly divided and has had long-running conflicts with all of their neighbors.
The situation worsened in early 2006 when the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA)-led disarmament initiative resulted in a tense standoff between the SPLA troops and armed civilians. Numerous inter-connected peace efforts were in danger of unraveling. In response, OTI supported a series of initiatives by PACT (OTI's implementing partner) and the Nuer Peace Council to convene a meeting of Lou community leaders, politicians and armed groups. Over 700 Lou Nuer participated in this effort, called the Yaui peace meeting. Participants included Government of South Sudan Vice President Riak Machar and, for the first time, Lou leaders from Khartoum - Sudan's capital -- Malakal, Juba and Bor. Lou leaders reached several agreements on integration issues, disarmament, and peaceful engagement with their neighbors.
With an unprecedented level of demand for immediate follow-up, key delegates from the Yuai meeting moved en mass to Poktap in Duk territory. They addressed continuing tensions between the Lou and the Dinka over the Lou's migration to Dinka grazing areas and community concerns over the disarmament process. Following an agreement with Dinka leaders, they then moved to Gumuruk in Pibor County where they participated in a separate OTI-sponsored Murle-Neighbors meeting. Since this meeting, local chiefs, authorities, and armed youth have participated in a plethora of smaller peace initiatives.
Despite the fragile situation, participants from all sides have repeatedly emphasized that open dialogue between conflicting communities as well as between communities and their leaders have profoundly influenced the course of events in Upper Nile. In recent months, these dialogues have been credited with preventing loss of lives and the collapse of many delicate new relationships.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C: Michele Amatangelo, Program Manager, Tel: (202) 712-4275, mamatangelo@usaid.gov
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