Central Equatoria State chiefs meet to form a new council
YEI, South Sudan, June 28, (Gurtong) – Some 90 chiefs from across Central Equatoria State (CES) gathered together in Yei town’s Crop Training Centre on Wednesday. The chiefs – who represent all six counties of CES and at least 11 different ethnic groups or nationalities - will vote for a leader and executive members for an unprecedented state council on Thursday said organizers.
“The council is going to do a lot, for communication between the chiefs and also improve the role of the chiefs for their communities” said Dennis Daramallo, a paramount chief from Juba. He added that it was hoped that the council would assist the chiefs in getting back their powers as promised by the new Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) government.
The CES conference of chiefs is part of a South-wide push spearheaded by the Policy Advocacy and Strategic Studies (PASS) organization funded by the Swiss government and the United States Institute for Peace, who are also providing technical support.
“The interim constitution of Southern Sudan says that ethnic and cultural communities shall have the right to freely enjoy and develop their particular cultures,” said PASS coordinator Acuil Malith Banggol at the opening ceremony. He also emphasized to the chiefs that under the legislation, states are to provide for the role of traditional authorities ‘as an institution at local government level or on matters affecting local communities’.
The opportunity for traditional leaders to come together and form an institution for themselves is set out for them in all draft state constitutions said Malith.
“The State Legislative Assembly shall provide for the establishment, composition, functions and duties of the Councils of Traditional Authority Leaders,” explained Malith reading from legislation.
Earlier in the year, PASS ran a similar conference in Rumbek which ended with the formation of a traditional leaders council for Lakes State, headed by chief Dut Arop.
“For the first time of Southern Sudan’s history we formed a permanent structure under the guidance of traditional structures,” said Dut in an open letter to the CES chiefs read aloud at the opening ceremony, “we used to be summoned, by the colonialists, the Arab rule: for the first time we summon ourselves in the interests of our communities”.
Dut urged the CES chiefs to form a similar council to act as a platform for the protection of cultures and values and for peace between the different nationalities of the region.
“We have shown ourselves capable of modernizing,” his letter read.
The formal proceedings were disrupted by a heavy rainstorm that was accompanied by lightning and thunder for over an hour in the afternoon, but the chiefs braved that period of lowered audibility with songs, folk stories and dramatic dancing.
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