FULL-TEXT: Dr. Lam Akol’s proposal on Upper Nile conference

JUBA – South Sudan’s prominent opposition leader and chairperson of the country’s National Democratic Movement (NDM), Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, has released a proposal on how to conduct the forthcoming Upper Nile state conference.  Fine below the full text of the proposal.

Proposal on UPPER NILE STATE CONFERENCE

For reconciliation, healing and unity among the people of Upper Nile State.

CONCEPT NOTE

BACKGROUND

Upper Nile State is one of the ten (10) States comprising the Republic of South  Sudan. It is home to five ethnic groups –the Chollo, the Dinka, the Koma, the  Maban and the Nuer – residing in thirteen (13) counties.

The civil wars that took place in the country since December 2013 and the  political developments associated with them have caused devastation in the state and division among the communities. As a result, the social fabric was torn  between these communities that have existed peacefully together for centuries.

These communities need each other. Therefore, this unfortunate situation must  be rectified for the communities to resume existence in peace and harmony. The  reconciliation, healing and unity of these communities can be brought about only  through free, genuine and frank dialogue among them.

In February 2020, two sons of Upper Nile State, Dr John Gai Yoh and Gen. James  Hoth Mai, initiated a dialogue which went very well and could have culminated  in a Conference were it not for the onset of COVID-19 pandemic that made it not  possible to continue with the meetings. Now, with the pandemic fairly under  control, the time is ripe to resume that dialogue.

The dialogue will be conducted in two phases:

1- The preparatory consultative stage, and

2- The convening of the conference.

To ensure its success, the dialogue must be owned and controlled by the people  of Upper Nile State. Therefore, the preparatory consultative stage must reflect  the earlier initiative of the sons and daughters of the State. However, and in recognition of the role of the Government in supporting the process and  overseeing the implementation of the resolutions of the Conference, the  President of the Republic and the First Vice President are given the responsibility  to nominate members to the Preparatory Committee as follows.

THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE

(a)- Function:

The Preparatory Committee shall be tasked with carrying out all the activities  necessary for the preparation for convening the Conference. Without prejudice to  the generality of this statement, the Preparatory Committee shall:

1- Make the necessary contacts with the communities to ascertain their  readiness to attend the conference,

2- Solicit various opinions regarding the objectives, substance and conduct of  the conference,

3- Decide on the participants in the conference and send out invitations to  them,

4- Solicit financial and material assistance necessary for the success of convening the conference,

5- Decide on the venue and time for convening the conference, 6- Oversee the convening of the conference,

7- Adopt its own rules of procedure,

8- Draft the rules of procedure of the Conference,

9- Draft the programme of work of the Conference.

(b)- Composition

The Preparatory Committee shall be composed of thirty-two (32) members as  follows:

1- The Leadership Body: comprising five Upper Nile State elders of good  standing among the communities as follows:

(a)- One initiator. The other is now a Minister and hence doesn’t qualify,

(b)- Four (4) members appointed by the President and the First Vice  President, two each.

(c)- The five members shall elect the Chairperson of the Committee. 2- Twenty-eight (28) other members: two from each of the 13 Counties and  two from the Koma community to be nominated as follows:

(a)- The President of the Republic shall nominate one person from each  county and one from the Koma community. Out of the 14 nominees, at  least 5 shall be women.

(b)- The First Vice President shall make similar nominations as above. (c)- The lists of the nominees will be handed to the Leadership Body.

THE CONFERENCE: 

The Conference shall be convened by the Preparatory Committee on the basis of  its mandate above. The Rules of Procedure of the Conference shall indicate who  chairs the sittings of the Conference as well as other procedural matters.