Agwelek Forces: Position paper on Peace Talks with SPLM-IO
Jul. 03 More Views, Uncategorized 3 comments
JULY/03/2015, SSN;
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The birth of the Republic of South Sudan was a moment of great joy. It
was the realization of centuries old dream of our people who were
reeling under oppression, repression and marginalization from
successive regimes in Khartoum. It goes without saying that the
independence of South Sudan was not an end in itself but the beginning
of the long road for the attainment of peace and prosperity for our
people, who have been kept behind by the war. All these need a
government that is forward-looking that rises to the enormous
challenges posed by the birth of the new state.
INTRODUCTION:
The situation in South Sudan today is slipping into an abyss unless
drastic steps are taken to stop the slide. The country is gripped by
many serious problems, some of which are:
1. Civil War
Since 15 December 2013, our country has been gripped by a destructive
war that quickly degenerated into a tribal conflict. Unarmed Nuers
were massacred by the government in Juba, and Nuer Commanders in Bor
and Malakal turned on the Dinka in revenge killings. Also in Malakal
and the surrounding villages innocent Collo were killed in cold blood
by the marauding Nuer White Army that invaded the area.
All observers agree that the war was caused by a power-struggle within
the SPLM leadership but because of the accumulated grievances and the
mismanagement of the affairs of the country since 2005, things went
out of hand.
2. Insecurity
Apart from the war, the country suffers from many forms of insecurity
due to inter and intra-tribal fighting. The Lakes State is now
suffering under sectional intra-tribal armed conflict, a situation the
authorities have miserably failed to control. The life of a human
being has become so cheap in South Sudan! A government that cannot
provide security for its citizens is not worth being in office.
3. Land grabbing
The tribally-oriented government in Juba has made it a point to grab
Collo land and give it to the Dinka. This was done despite the known
facts on the ground since the concept of administration was introduced
in Southern Sudan.
President Salva Kiir threw his full weight behind this sinister
project. He personally chaired a Dinka conference in 2009 in which
Pigi (Obang), well known to be Collo’s land, was given to the Dinka
south of the Sobat River.
Again, in 2010, he declared Akoka, comprised of three (3) Omodias
(Chieftaincies) only, a full County and pronounced Collo’s Bilthiang
(Pathao Nyiger), only established by Upper Nile government as relief
point to supply Dongjold Dink with relief items, it was taken as its
capital. All these actions were supported by no documents. It was
simply misuse of power for tribal ends.
Today, Kiir tells his Dinka hegemons that the border between Collo and
his neighbours passes in the middle of the two rivers (White Nile and
Sobat)!
Land grabbing did not stop at Collo land only. Similar cases are
recorded in Maban County, Upper Nile State, Central Equatoria State
and other areas.
There is also the other dangerous phenomenon of Dinka pastoralists
that are unleashed fully armed with automatic weapons upon the farms
of sedentary Equatorians to graze on especially in Western Equatoria
and the recent killings of innocent villagers in Maridi and Munduri
Counties are still fresh in our memories.
4. Rampant Corruption
Corruption in South Sudan is a cancer that has evaded treatment. It
involves all levels of government from top to bottom. Thus, nothing
short of the change of government will ever eradicate corruption.
5. Tribalism and Nepotism
National unity is the safety valve for the progress of our country.
Unfortunately, tribalism and nepotism have become the order of the day
threatening the fabric of our unity.
6. The Spiralling Inflation
Lack of clear economic policies has led to uncontrollable rising
prices in basic commodities, especially the staple foods making them
beyond the reach of the common citizen. The dollar is undervalued
deliberately to enhance corruption. The official rate is kept
artificially at three (3) pounds, whereas the official rate has gone
beyond ten (10) pounds. This comes at a time when the monthly minimum
wage in South Sudan is only three hundred (300) pounds.
7. Bad Leadership
Our country has been led irresponsibly for the last ten (10) years.
The ruling clique has arrogated to itself the right to define the
country in their own image. They are the country and the country is
them. Their exclusion politics led to the alienation of many sectors
of our community and eventually armed resistance in many parts of the
country.
The foreign friends of South Sudan who rendered unlimited support and
were instrumental to help bring about our independence were shocked by
the way we conducted ourselves. South Sudan which was welcomed by the
whole world at birth is today a pariah State. The country is isolated
internationally and regionally for its bad leadership and lack of
clear direction.
OBJECTIVES:
For all these failures and more, the AGWELEK Movement was launched to
spearhead the struggle to rid the people of South Sudan of this
corrupt, inefficient and tribally-oriented government. The AGWELEK
stands for the following:
1. Unity of the ranks of all the groups fighting in the bushes of
South Sudan, in order to quicken the removal of the dictatorial and
tribally oriented regime in Juba.
2. Full abidance by the fundamental rights and basic freedoms as
stipulated in the international conventions and covenants.
3. Immediate implementation of a truly federal system of governance in
which the former districts during the colonial rule shall become
states.
4. Implementation of a socio-economic revival programme for South
Sudan that will reverse the current decline of the economy and render
basic services to the people.
5. Establish an independent Commission for reconciliation,
transitional justice and healing so as to repair the social fabric of
our people.
6. Pursuance of a sound foreign policy that will break the current
isolation of the country. It shall be based on our interest and
promotes regional and international co-operation.
7. Building a truly national army and security organs of South Sudan,
both in mission and composition which shall be under direction of the
civil authority. All the States shall be proportionally represented in
the national army similar to the integration of the Any-nya One
movement in 1972.
8. Carry out a complete overhaul of the security and law enforcement
agencies to be for the service of the people and their protection.
9. Reform of the judiciary, civil service and all government institutions.
10. Diversification of the economy and prudent management of national
wealth and resources to serve the welfare of the people.
Upon the removal of the current government, there shall be established
a transitional government of national unity the mission of which shall
be to prepare the country for multi-party democracy including adopting
a permanent constitution by a National Constitutional Conference in
which all the political parties will take part.
The AGWELEK shall discuss and agree on what it needs to bring about
our unity in diversity and the principles of the permanent
constitution of the country, and set the time for holding the general
elections.
Although the origin of our fight against the regime was the war it
imposed on us to grab Collo’s land, we believe that this problem can
only be solved within the solution of the problems afflicting the
whole country.
If the president did not support the claim of his tribesmen on Collo
land the current situation could not have developed. Therefore, the
spark to this armed resistance was local but its objectives must be
national so that together we all solve our national ills that lead to
what looks like localized problems.
OUR VISION
We, belief in the peaceful settlement of the current conflict in the
Republic of South Sudan, through IGAD mediation and the involvement of
international partners, specially the TROIKA.
OUR MISSION
We affirm our commitment to the establishment of a decentralized
multi-party democratic system of governance in which the transfer of
power shall be through peaceful means, and uphold the values of
equality, human dignity, justice and equal rights of citizens;
Further committed to the establishment of Democratic Federal Republic
of South Sudan, as preferred option of governance;
We are conscious that the Republic of South Sudan is a multi-ethnic,
multi-cultural, multi-religious country;
Acknowledged that the seating Government in Juba had failed the people
of South Sudan in delivering basic services and building a nation
state based on principle of good governance and ethnic tolerance;
Conscious that the struggle of the people of South Sudan for justice,
equality, human dignity and human rights, is a just cause that
requires the unification of all patriotic forces in the country;
We, in the Agwelek put forth the following five clusters as our
position in achieving the desired unity of our people:
1. LAND
2. UPPER NILE/FASHODA STATE
3. POWER SHARING ARRANGMENTS
4. SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
5. TRUST FUND FOR THE UPPER NILE/FASHODA STATE
1. LAND:
The Collo tribe is a major Nilotic ethnic group of South Sudan, living
along the western and eastern banks of Sobat and White Nile rivers and
around the city of Malakal (Makal). Collo also live in a number of
settlements on the northern banks of Sobat River and around the
confluence of Sobat and White Nile rivers, with Doleib Hill as an
important missionary station. Some Collo settlements are found as far
as Anakdiar (Kunaam) on the east bank of Sobat River.
Collo are the third largest majority ethnic group in South Sudan after
the Dinka and the Nuer. Collo, one of the Lou groups of tribes, are
led by a Rudh (King) who is considered to be divine and traces lineage
back to Nyikang, the cultural and spiritual hero and founding father.
The current Collo Kingdom’s capital was established in the year 1545
(about 470 years ago) by Rudh (King) Tugo Wad Dhakodh in Pachodo.
The Kingdom’s neighbors are: Salem Arabs to the north, Nuba to the
west (both tribes live in the Republic of Sudan), and Nuer to the
South and Dinka to the east and south east of the Kingdom.
The boundary lines demarcations between the Collo Kingdom and its
neighbors are well demarcated as before the 1/1/1956 and as
established by the colonial administration. These borders were
acknowledged and recognized by the government of the independent
Republic of South Sudan on July 9th, 2011 and the International
Community.
In addition, several historians have written about Collo Kingdom and
its boundary lines with neighbors. Also it is known from some
historical evidences that Collo land has been called Central District
of Upper Nile Province with the following geographical boundaries
drawn by non-Collo scribes without bias:
a- On the Northern Front, the border is marked on the east bank of the
Nile by a line drawn from the junction of 10o 15o north parallel with
the Nile to the apex of the junction of 9o 30o latitude and 32o 54o
longitude;
b- On the southern front, the border is marked between Anakdyiar and
Banglay, then to Wunakir on Khor Fullus along the Sobat River, then to
the mouth of Zeraf River entering into Lake No; and
c- On the western front, the borders extend from Lake No and stretch
along Kordofan/Upper Nile boundary northwards to 11o north parallel.
2. STATE:
In accordance with the popular aspiration of the people of South Sudan
in establishing a Democratic Federal Republic of South Sudan, and on
behalf of its constituency, The Agwelek demands State for the Collo
nation with its borders as they stood on 1/January/1956, with its
capital in Malakal town.
3. POWER-SHARING ARRANGMENT:
a. POWER IN THE CENTER
• In the recent proposal tabled by IGAD for the belligerence parties,
the Government was allocated 53% and SPLM-IO 33% and other political
parties 14% pertaining to the formation of transitional government.
Agwelek shall be allocated 30% from the 33% allocated to the SPLM-IO.
b. POWER SHARING IN THE STATE
• Agwelek shall be allocated 50% of power sharing in Upper
Nile/Fashoda state. Other South Sudanese Political Parties in
government shall share the remaining 50%. Agwelek shall be given the
right to appoint governor.
4. SECURITY/MILITARY ARRANGEMENTS:
a. SECURITY IN THE STATE
The overall control of security in the Upper Nile/Fashoda state shall
be the sole responsibility of State’s government. Some of the Agwelek
forces shall be integrated into the auxiliary forces in the state and
shall provide security.
b. PRESENTATION IN THE NATIONAL ARMY
In accordance to the final peace agreement and formula reached in
addressing the creation of South Sudan National Army, some of the
Agwelek forces shall be dually and equitably represented.
5. TRUST FUND:
• UPPER NILE/FASHODO TRUST FUND shall be established for the
rehabilitation and resettlement of the people of envisaged Upper Nile/
Fashoda state. For the three years interim period, the UPPER
NILE/FASHODO TRUST FUND shall be allocated $500,000,000 [FIVE HUNDRED
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS]. The National Government shall
contribute not less than $200,000,000. The International Donors shall
fill the gap of $300,000,000. The National Government of South Sudan
in cooperation and Coordination with two Upper/Fashoda state shall
hold a donors conference to marshal the needed monies. END
Date: June 27, 2015
AGWELEK FORCES
UPPER NILE STATE, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN
POSITION PAPER ON PEACE TALKS WITH
SUDAN’S PEOPLE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT IN THE OPPOSITION, (SPLM-IO).
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3 Comments
Eastern
July 3, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Agwelek leadership,
I am only interested in Upper Nile/Fashodo Trust Fund. Why should
the government (I guess though oil sales) contribute less than the
international community? It should be the reverse; Government should
contribute $0.3bn while the international community contribute $0.2bn!
South Sudan and South Sudanese have become a burden rather than
assets to the international community. Shame!
Reply
Bol
July 3, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Dear SPLA/IO supporters,
By the look of it, Johnson is defecting soon from your camp…You
did the leg work of rebellion and he just crashed into the party
demanding a lion share of your quota! What a maroon!
Reply
Easy Money
July 3, 2015 at 7:27 pm
The Historical Background, Introduction, Objectives and the
Mission of the Agweleck fighters,has touched the nerve-chord of what
south Sudanese fought for, during the 60 years of the liberation
struggle since 1955. I believe, the Agweleck negotiating positions is
not between the SPLA/IO. It should rather be between the
obstructionist government that is denying the Constitutional rights of
every south Sudanese. So far, SPLM-IO is fighting for those
inalienable rights of our people unless otherwise. These inalienable
rights are, Life ,Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
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