South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The communities of Dinka Malual of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State and the pastoral tribes of Misseriya and Rezeigat in neighbouring Sudan on Sunday agreed to compensate each other with cows and money in case of their members got killed.
The three communities agreed to 41 cows and 200,000 South Sudanese Pounds as blood compensation in case members of each tribe got killed during the migration period.
“In case of any incident when the person is wounded, whose part of the body is injured by a gun, must be compensated with 20 heads of cattle (11 heifers and 9 bulls) and a fine of SSP 200, 000 or its equivalent in Sudanese Pounds,” said a statement issued after the four-day peace conference held in Aweil town of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.
The three communities attended the peace conference that commenced on Thursday till Sunday last week.
Among other recommendations agreed upon by the communities include penalty of 10 heads of cattle for rape and 7 for adultery.
It said that for the incident of murder, the value of compensating the blood or life lost must be 41 heads of cattle (21 heifers and 20 bulls) and a fine of 200,000 South Sudanese Pounds.
It added that incase of rape, the perpetrator shall be arrested, investigated and punished according to the law of the country in which the incident occurred.
In addition, it noted that the perpetrator shall also pay 10 heads of cattle (6 heifers and 4 bulls) and a fine of 200,000 South Sudanese Pounds.
“In case of anyone committing adultery, the criminal must be ordered to pay seven (7) heads of cattle (4 heifers and 3 bulls) and a fine of 200,000 SSP or its equivalent in Sudanese Pounds,” it said.
It also revealed that in case of theft, the perpetrator shall be jailed for 3 years and subjected to a fined 200,000 SSP in a bid to reduce criminality among the communities.
“To reduce cattle or property theft, any criminal who steals cattle, sheep, goat, donkey, etc. must be arrested by the police depending on the location of the incident and forced to return the stolen property to their owners and be jailed for 3 years and should be fine with the amount of SSP 200,000,” it said.
“When the Missiriya pastoralists are in the territory of South Sudan, the safety and security of Miseiriya pastoralists/nomads during the cattle migration season must be the responsibility of the government of South Sudan, especially the hosting State,” it said.
It also prohibited the burning of bushes, adding that whoever is found burning bushes shall be arrested and ordered to pay 100,000 SSP as fine.
“Cutting down the trees is proscribed by the government of South Sudan. Therefore, any person found cutting down fruits, edible and non-edible trees must be arrested and fined fifty thousand South Sudanese pounds (350,000) or its equivalent in Sudanese Pounds,” it said.
It also urged the host community and Missiriya normads to share the existing water and pasture resources and cattle migration routes without discrimination and hindrances.
