A five-day conference to codify the customary laws of the Beli community concluded Thursday in Wulu County of Lakes State with a series of resolutions establishing standardized penalties for crimes including homicide, adultery and theft.
The conference, attended by community elders, chiefs, women, youth, intellectuals and senior politicians, produced a detailed framework intended to formalize traditional practices.
Key resolutions set blood wealth compensation for a homicide at either 31 cows or 31 million South Sudanese pounds (SSP), formally abolishing the older practice of compensating with another person.
Penalties for adultery were clarified to match the original marriage payment, requiring compensation in cows if the dowry was paid in livestock, or in cash if a cash dowry was used.
Theft or destruction of a beehive now carries a penalty of nine months imprisonment plus a fine of three replacement hives and one bucket of honey.
The conference also set fines for impregnating a woman outside marriage at 3 million SSP and for eloping with a non-pregnant woman without parental consent at 2 million SSP.
Tabitha Abiel Maltam, chairwoman of the Wulu County Women’s Association, said the clarifications on adultery penalties are a significant step.
“Now, the punishment is separated based on the original marriage agreement,” Maltam said. She added the new code provides flexibility for inter-community marriage with the neighboring Dinka people, allowing marriages to be conducted with either cows or cash dowries.
Paramount Chief of Wulu County, Agok Deng Manyuon, said the new laws standardize processes that were previously inconsistent. He detailed that child support for children born out of wedlock is now set at 5 million SSP, payable by the father to the mother’s family, though payment in cows remains acceptable.
Youth leader John Apoli Ruben said the conference addressed gaps in handling property crimes. “In the past, stealing someone’s beehive was addressed at the family level, not through the court,” Ruben said. “Now it is included in the customary law and has a severe punishment.”
Former Lakes State Minister of Information Charles Badiri described the conference as foundational.
“This is something that will save our community security, tradition and will support the future generation,” Badiri said.
The conference was held with the endorsement of Lakes State Governor Rin Tueny Mabor.