FIGHTING FLARES UP IN WESTERN EQUATORIA AND LAKES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001055

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2016
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PHUM KWMN SU
SUBJECT: FIGHTING FLARES UP IN WESTERN EQUATORIA AND LAKES

REF: KHARTOUM 482

Classified By: P/E Chief Eric Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Jonglei State and the greater Upper Nile
region remain the source of the greatest ethnic instability
in Southern Sudan. Recent clashes in Western Equatoria and
Lakes states, however, show that this fighting may spread if
the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) cannot maintain
security within its borders. Fighting in both Western
Equatoria and Lakes has been attributed to Dinka youth who
act with impunity, show no respect for traditions, and may be
using rape as a weapon. Several NGOs and government
officials also say that the situation is made worse in
Western Equatoria by the actions of the governor, while Lakes
state is plagued by a corrupt judicial system that threatens
the rule of law.

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Ethnic Fears Manipulated in Western Equatoria
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2. (U) Tensions and periodic fighting have existed for
generations between the agriculturalist groups in Western
Equatoria and the Dinka cattle herders who use the region for
dry season grazing. However, violence has been traditionally
controlled and was historically not considered a threat to
the overall peace and stability of Equatoria. The situation
became worse during the war with the more permanent arrival
of Dinka internally displaced persons (IDPs),who often
claimed land vacated by fleeing refugees. These refugees
have been returning, while the Dinka IDPs were initially slow
to move back to their homes. This further elevated tensions,
especially because the settlement of land disputes is
normally handled by a local chief, a mechanism that is less
effective when the dispute involves people from different
ethnicities.


3. (C) However, the GoSS had been claiming that these issues
were manageable and would not cause widespread instability.
Now, according to Peter Beshir Bendi, SPLM Member of
Parliament from Western Equatoria, the situation has
deteriorated and threatens the peace. Bendi blamed this on
the governor of Western Equatoria, Patrick Zamoi. A
representative of PACT, a largely USAID-funded NGO that has
been organizing peace conferences throughout Southern Sudan,
also said that the situation in Western Equatoria was
manageable until Zamoi arrived and began inflaming racial
tensions and agitating for violence.


4. (C) Bendi told the Acting Consul General (A/CG) that he
believes Zamoi is working with the northerners to destabilize
Southern Sudan, and that a change will soon be made in that
state. Bendi is a possible replacement for governor. He
told A/CG that he would take the job if asked, but he thinks
he can be more useful if he stays in Juba and continues to
work in the assembly.

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Youth Gone Wild
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5. (C) In neighboring Lakes state, NGO workers, SPLM members,
and GoSS officials independently told A/CG that groups of
armed Dinka youth are creating inter-clan fighting through
cattle raiding and general banditry. The same youths are
also thought to be responsible for the attacks on the Jur in
Mvolo, on the border between Lakes and Western Equatoria.
These attacks have reportedly left 20 dead and have included
charges of rape.


6. (C) GoSS Minister for Culture, Youth, and Sports John Luk
Jok, who has been accompanying GoSS Vice President Riek
Machar on his many peace missions, said that the reports of
rape are plausible, although he had no solid figures. He
explained that rape is considered very taboo in traditional
Dinka culture, but these youth have no respect for any of
their cultural traditions. This also makes them hard to
control because they do not listen to their elders or respond
to traditional peacemaking techniques. He lamented that
despite the fact that these kids are operating outside the
control of their clan, it is the clan that suffers the
retaliation.


7. (C) Deng Ajak, Director General of the SPLM think-tank the
Kush Institute, and Member of Parliament Gatkouth Kuich
separately echoed Jok's assesment. Jok, Ajak and Kuich also
said that the problems with impudent youth were widespread
throughout the south, and these young fighters were
responsible for the Jonglei fighting last February (reftel).
Ajak blames the SPLM, whose indoctrination included
distancing recruits from their heritage and value systems,
teaching them to "kill your own father if necessary."

KHARTOUM 00001055 002 OF 002



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Rule of Law Breakdown
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8. (C) The situation is further compounded in Lakes state by
the breakdown in the traditional judicial system. Both Ajak
and Jok explained that there is widespread corruption among
the chiefs who run the customary court systems, and that
justice can be traded for cows. Because of the lack of faith
in these customary structures, even more traditional Dinka
are reportedly taking the law into their own hands, including
recent reports of a Lakes state minister being attacked by an
angry mob.


9. (C) Ajak, Jok, Kuich and others believe that this problem
will only get worse until the SPLA is capable of enforcing
order. While the SPLA has an effective core fighting force
(largely assigned to the Joint Integrated Units or JIUs),
most SPLA troops are ill-equipped to deal with these young
bandits. When the SPLA tried to disarm similar groups in
Jonglei last February, they were routed and are now reluctant
to engage any raiding youths.
STEINFELD