Local leaders from the government and armed opposition faction (SPLA-IO) have agreed to jointly promote peace and protect civilians in Yei River State.
Last weekend, the Civil Affairs Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) , in collaboration with Kupera County authorities, organized a joint civil-military relations dialogue aimed at promoting trust in the implementation of the peace agreement.
Hundreds of civilians and soldiers attended the dialogue in Wuji payam.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the Kupera County commissioner Emmanuel Khamis Richard said the joint dialogue aimed at promoting the implementation of the peace agreement.
“The impact of the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement will be felt by the people at the grassroots level. The war is over and we have the peace agreement, we need to open a new page to reconcile and forget the past,” Khamis said.
He added, “From today onwards, we shall be working together with our brothers and sisters both in the government and the SPLA-IO as leaders of South Sudan and that is the only way to show our civilians that there is peace in the country”.
On his part, the spokesman of the opposition SPLM-IO in the state, Wayi Godwil Edward confirmed that they agreed to provide protection and promote information sharing.
“We have resolved to collaborate together with the government to ensure free movement of people and goods and to remove all unnecessary road blocks and taxes,” he said.
President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and a handful of other opposition groups signed the peace deal in September 2018.
Several armed opposition groups, including those led by General Thomas Cirillo are not part of the peace deal signed last year.