Militia integration and return of raided Cattle

Militia and Cattle
Originally uploaded by joodmc.

This was from the celebration on Tuesday for the return of Toposa
cattle that were abducted by the Buya and integration of the militia into the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Since the signing of the peace agreement last year, there are now three official (legal) armies in Sudan, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) which is the Khartoum army, the SPLA (formerly "rebels" or freedom fighters), and the joint forces, which is made up of both. All militias are suppose to join one of the three options, or be demobalized and disarmed. Some militias are resisting this, so it was exciting to see some joining the SPLA, their former enemies.

The ceremony started with the sacrifice of a white bull (in the
forefront), then the militia (the group behind in military uniform)
jumped over the sacrificed bull, and then the cattle that were being returned also jumped over the bull. This signifies that the conflict is over.

then there were lots of dances and speeches.