Opening Speech by Charles Abyei Kon
Dinka-Nuer Reconciliation Conference
Washington, DC
12 January, 2002

Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of organizing committee, I welcome you to this historic Dinka - Nuer Reconciliation and Peace Conference. I thank all of you for taking time to be here with us today in this conference.

Also, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, I thank Church of the Brethren for hosting this important conference. We are grateful and appreciate the Church’s generosity for welcoming us and gave us this space for the meeting, the Dinka-Nuer Reconciliation and Peace Conference.  Church of the Brethren demonstrates real Christian spirit for welcoming us, Dinka and Nuer into their Church. Greg Davidson has been very  helpful to me for preparation of this conference.

Special thanks to Sudan Working Group for their support to organize this conference.  This is the group which prepared 1996 ‘Position Paper’ that made important impact here in US. One of important aspect of the group I need to mention is their openness to listen to all parties, North and South Sudanese. They always made fair approach to help end the suffering of Sudanese people both North and South. They contributed many hours, days to work for what can bring peace to Sudan. Dinka and Nuer are here because of their efforts. Please give hand to the group for good work they have been doing for Sudanese people.

Also, on behalf of Dinka and Nuer communities, I welcome our distinguish guests and friends.

I welcome Dinka and Nuer representatives for their respond to come and represent their communities in this conference. I know it is not easy for some members of Dinka and Nuer who came to attend this conference.  I thank you and appreciate your concern and effort to come all the way to attend this important conference. Welcome comrades.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Since 1992, I have been involved in the Dinka-Nuer reconciliation process. The first attempt was when the Sudan Youth Association chose me to lead the youth reconciliation team. The major areas of reconciliation process in the youth’s first attempt were easing the hostility and opening of the corridor from Kenya to areas under control of SPLM/SPLA-Naser Faction. The second attempt was an attempt for bringing the officers from SPLM/SPLA and the SPLM/SPLA-United to forum of reconciliation (1993-1995). This is my third attempt for Dinka-Nuer reconciliation.

Today and tomorrow, we are going to talk about one of the most devastating problem which claimed many lives of Dinka, Nuer, Equatorians,  Nuba  and South Blue Nile peoples. The most affected are the civilian people. It is the conflict, which started August 28, 1991 in what is known as ‘Naser Declaration‘. It was split which divided the SPLM/SPLA. The consequence to the civilian population is devastating. Many Sudanese who came to US  and other countries within last ten years was a result of the split which became Dinka  - Nuer confrontation.

The Dinka - Nuer conflict we are going to talk about today and tomorrow started as split of the Sudan People Liberation Movement/ Sudan Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA) the Movement which took arms to fight against what the people of Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains and South Blue Nile saw as injustice and oppression by imposing Islamic laws against will of Christians and Southern traditional believes.

In 1983, when war started,  the SPLM/SPLA put all efforts on how to fight the war. The Movement structures were not put into consideration. Lack of Movement structures gave bad guys chance not to be accountable for their deeds. From 1983 to 1990, lot of mistakes were committed in the SPLM/SPLA controlled areas. Abuses and violations against civilian population and members of the movement were committed because there was no accountability for the behavior of many officers. This type of practices were every where in the SPLM/SPLA controlled areas in Upper Nile, Bahr El Ghazal, Equatoria, Nuba Mountains, and South Blue.

In August 28, 1991, the leaders of breakaway group  raised couple of points as reason for declaring the split. Among the raised points were lack of Political Structures, Militarilization of Movement and Human Right Violations.

Unfortunately, the break away Movement of August 1991, Naser Declaration followed the same foot steps of the SPLM/SPLA main stream by falling in the same lack of political structures, Militarism and Human Rights Violations. Today, the evidence is that there are more then one faction in the Nuer area and Nuer against Nuer.

Why all these happening in Southern Sudan? the answer is the break down of social traditional structures and no adequate replacement by well defined understandable modern structures introduced by the Movement. Traditionally, traditional social structures provide approach and define solutions to problems for individual(s) community, society and nation. By providing approach, solution to problem is found within  category of structures. In the absent of social traditional structures, that mean the absent of passion, believes, responsibility, respect and capable leadership.

Therefore, from 1983, SPLM/SPLA tried to impose military structures to administer the communities of Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains and South Blue Nile. The Movement structures did not fit in and that where the problem started.  Nuer thought what was happening  because the leader of the SPLM/SPLA is a Dinka. The Dinka of Bahr El Ghazal were saying the Movement was in problem because the SPLM/SPLA leader is from Bor etc. The same lack of structures and violations happened to Nuer also happened to Dinka, Equatorians, Nuba and South Blue Nile people. The effect of lack of structures was all over Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile.

Traditional and social structure of Dinka, Nuer and any other community of South Sudan, Nuba and South Blue Nile people consist of believes in God, believes in nature, respecting human nature and other God created creatures, respecting people and rights of other, responsibility, compromise, understanding and fairness. When there is social structures’ breakdown, system breakdown including above-mentioned faith elements of structures. Therefore, in the absent of structures, it will be difficult to solve any type of  problem. Those in power will begin to use force because of the absent order of system.

In addition to luck of structures which contributed to difficulty for solving Dinka-Nuer conflict, there are interest groups. The interest groups are in Sudan and within international community and the benefits are huge. These groups are working hard to see no peace between Dinka and Nuer and no peace in Sudan. Some of these interest groups in Sudan are those who rose to high position during this wartime and they are powerful now. These people who rose to high position are afraid that if there is peace in Sudan, they may loose their positions because they don’t have credentials to let people elect or choose them in democratic process. The other group in Sudan, are those who feel they are important and any thing about Sudan must go through them. They are not making peace nor allowing others to make peace in Sudan. These two groups in Sudan are in North and South Sudan.

The international interest group are those who have businesses in Sudan. Their businesses are successful because of war situation in Sudan. They would prefer continuation of war in Sudan so that the prosperity of their businesses continue      

Ladies and Gentlemen, because of war situation in Sudan, terrorists took advantage of situation and made Sudan one of the training center, passage for their operations’ to target destinations. Sudan has been one of the biggest financial transaction center for terrorists.

Dinka-Nuer conflict resulted death of thousand of Sudanese. The conflict gives chance to terrorists to operate in Sudan directly and indirectly and contributed to death of Americans, Kenyans and Tanzanians in the US Embassies bombing in East Africa. Many died around the world and recently we so it in September 11, 2001 in New York and here in Washington where thousands died. If Dinka and Nuer were to reconcile early enough, Americans, Kenyans, Tanzanians and others around the world would have not died and September 11 might had not happened because terrorists were going to be squeezed before they strike. As president Bush said, “ either you are with us or with them.”  Dinka and Nuer must support US Government to fight war against terrorists. Any one of you who refuses reconciliation between Dinka and Nuer and continue to support National Islamic Front (NIF) in this wartime against terrorism will be considered terrorist(s). I strongly urge Dinka and Nuer to reconcile because it will help pave way for peace process in Sudan.  

Yet, it is not too late to ratify the problem. Dinka and Nuer can sit down in traditional way as we are today to resolve the conflict. New Sudan Council of Churches started the process of reconciliation using traditional approach in Wunliet and was successful. Why traditional approach is more preferable because traditional approach involves sincerity, truthfulness, honesty and commitment.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the road of peace in Sudan is rough and difficult. But if Dinka and Nuer unite the road of peace in Sudan can be smooth and easy. The power is to bring Dinka and Nuer together. Dinka and Nuer have power to help bringing peace for Sudan.

In addition, as I mentioned the process which should lead us to the road of peace in Sudan, is reconciliation that mean Dinka and Nuer communities must resolve their differences, addressing their economics and social issues facing the two communities here in US and back home. The reconciliation intended to include all Dinka and Nuer wherever they are, here in US, inside Sudan including those Dinka and Nuer in Sudan Government control areas.

Also, Dinka -Nuer reconciliation includes spirituality which might have been affected by such devastating situation that moved many Dinka and Nuer from their traditional roots to new environment. The effect of spirit deficit can be great because it leaves people with no sense of belonging and cause conflict within the person blaming the situation which up rooted them from their traditional foundation. The absent of spirituality can bring leaders who do not share people’s believes because they don’t have passion to belief in God and will not respect people’s values and their traditional believes. This is one of aspect which contributed to Dinka-Nuer conflict.

Therefore, this conference will address introduction to Dinka-Nuer conflict, join effort of Dinka and Nuer to live in harmony here in US and work together to achieve their economics success in their new country, USA. In addition, the conference will encourage scheduling next meeting to bring all Southern Sudanese, Nuba and South Blue Nile people to address issues facing them and formation of one national umbrella here in US. Also, the conference will encourage creation of defined community institution like Dinka-Nuer National and Regional committees. The same time , the conference will draw some guidelines to continue process of reconciliation here in US and back home in Sudan to help bring peace in Sudan.

This reconciliation and peace process is intended to go through Dinka and Nuer traditional institutions and Movements institutions and the approach will need honesty and sincerity. God bless you all.