A three-day tri-state pre-seasonal cattle movement conference involving herders from Warrap State and farmers from Western Bahr el Ghazal State which started on Monday in Wau concluded with calls to maintain the previous Marial-Bai Agreement.
The conference which brought together 180 participants from Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states focused on reviewing previous agreements between the herders and farmers related to the timeframe of seasonal cattle movement to farming areas, prohibiting of use of firearms by the herders and metric compensation for crops and property destroyed by cattle, among others.
A communique read out by Martin Magot, the representative of Community for Empowerment Programm Organization (CEPO), at the close of the conference on Wednesday said the parties agreed to maintain the previous agreements to strengthen peaceful coexistence among the communities.
“The conference also acknowledged the views of the delegates from Wau County on the non-acceptance of seasonal cattle movements in their area and committed to respecting this opinion,” the communique reads in part. “However, the delegates from Wau County requested more time to discuss the issue, reconsider their position, and rejoin the Marial Bai Agreement under certain conditions.”
“Our responsibility is to maintain and enhance security and the protection of both resources, animals and crops, and our citizens in the three states,” the communique added.
The parties also agreed to work together as communities that co-exist peacefully by implementing the provisions of the revised Marial Bai Agreement in letter and spirit for the benefit of our people in the three States.
The conference also urged opposition forces in Jur River County of Western Bahr el Ghazal State not to interfere with the movement of cattle keepers in their areas of control.
The delegates appreciated the consistent support of the United Nations family to the overall peace, reconciliation, justice, and accountability agenda in the three states and called for sustained support in the immediate future to safeguard and secure the gains achieved in 2023 and 2024 and to address critical outstanding challenges.
“We called on the authorities of the three states to take charge of the collection of firearms from civilians using different strategies instead of openly declaring the exercise,” the communique stated.
Among other resolutions is that the state governments strengthen and empower the mobile courts to deal with cases related to herders and farmers.
For his part, Chief Adim Adim of Gogrial West County said the review Marial-Bai agreement met their standards as cattle keepers.
“For our side as cattle keepers of Warrap State, all the chapters we passed today are in place because the compensations which were written and reviewed are in place because if your cattle destroy crops like sorghum, you pay,” he said. “On firearms, no one will come with guns again and it will be the army to protect the civilians and their properties. We handed this to the government and no civilians will come with guns to Western Bahr el Ghazal State.”
Meanwhile, James Aguer Ken, the head chief of Watho-Lelo in Jur River County, urged the communities to ensure that the agreement is implemented.
“We will be happy if all the chapters passed today are implemented and we need the public to join the chiefs in implementation. All things were in place but there was only disagreement over the compensation of sorghum (dura) with money but it was rejected and people said it should be in the form of sorghum. Our message to our people from Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states is let us respect the Marial-Bai Agreement.”