Tentative pathway towards peace in Upper Nile

A peace conference held in North Bor County, Upper Nile, attended by over 500 delegates, has proposed "a pathway" for peace in the region. The All Upper Nile Peace Conference, which was attended last month by representatives from 25 out of the region's 30 administrative areas, recommended that a regional peace committee be formed to continue the peace building process through the holding of peace dialogues. In particular, a Nuer peace and reconciliation conference was recommended in Pangak. Consensus was also reached on the importance of strengthening local governance in the region, especially in the areas of law enforcement, including the judiciary, the police, prisons and local chiefs' courts. "The long march for peace and reconciliation in Upper Nile has started in earnest notwithstanding the hurdles and blockages on its way," said a press statement released by the conference participants. "The remaining challenge therefore, is the consolidation of this process through follow-up actions and activities that will enhance confidence and trust between the people and between the leaders." The people of Upper Nile wanted peace, security and "a return to harmonious relationships between communities", the statement said. "A a time when Upper Nile region appears to be slipping behind the progress being made at the IGAD-sponsored peace negotiation process, this peace conference has given encouragement, direction and hope to the people of Upper Nile for the achievement of security, unity and peace." The conference also identified the root causes of the local conflicts, some of which span 20 years: competition among the political and military elite; competition over natural resources; child abduction and cattle rustling; displacement of children due to war; and the erosion of formal state authority. It was attended by delegates from different political and military factions residing in rebel-controlled areas, the government of Sudan, civil society, the diaspora, chiefs, the Anyuak king, the diplomatic corps, donors, NGOs and the US-led Civilian Protection Monitoring Team.