A two-day trust and confidence-building workshop involving the local communities and organized forces kicked off on Tuesday in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
The workshop which was attended by over 50 participants is being supported by the UNMISS Civil affairs department in Wau and is organized by the state ministry of peacebuilding.
“The aim of the workshop is since people are in peace, there should be a trust and confidence-building among the communities, everyone needs to be aware that there should be no one to fear the other. People should stay in harmony and this is the aim of the workshop which is taking place from today to Wednesday,” the state director in the ministry of peacebuilding Angelina Anthony Uku told Radio Tamazuj.
Major Lula Karlo Ahmed, Wau city police inspector said the workshop could help the police combat crimes within communities.
“We as police, I will help us a lot in the nature of our work because if there is trust between police and the residents, it will help in reducing the crime rates, if there is a crime happening in the area, the police will easily get information because the police cannot control all areas but if there is a trust and good relationship between us, I hope the crimes in the areas will reduce,” said Karlo.
The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) director for orientation in Division 5 Col. Awan Deng Amum said the workshop will enhance coexistence between the army and civilians.
“This workshop is very vital, it helps the army and the civilians. A civilian should have trust in the army likewise to the soldier because a civilian and soldier are one people,” said Amum.
“If there are any disagreements, it may not be from the army leadership and it should be handled as an individual case. We have come from these communities and we will go back to them after the services,” he added.
He advised that any military-civilian disputes should be reported to the necessary authorities.
On behalf of the civilians, the chief of the Nazareth residential area, Chief Anthony Paulino urged all the organized forces to operate within the country's laws.
“We need our forces to respect the peace agreement as signed and implemented on the paper. I am very happy with the statement of the state deputy governor because when people come together for dialogue, it should involve many civilians from the residential areas such that they can understand the dialogue,” said Paulino.
Meanwhile the UNMISS state head of Civil Affairs, Mustafa Tijana said the workshop is meant to enhance the relationship between the organized forces and the civilians for peace and reconciliation.
The workshop brought together representatives from the police, SSPDF, National Security, SPLA-In Opposition, faith-based groups, chiefs of residential areas, and civil society activists.