The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in collaboration with the peacebuilding ministry in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is carrying out conflict management and peace training to empower local officials in Aweil South County and Aweil Municipality.
The two-day training concludes on Wednesday in Aweil town and the participants have been urged to utilize the knowledge they have acquired.
Maria Inecita Montero, of UNMISS’ Civil Affairs Division in the Aweil field office, said that the training is in line with the UN’s capacity-building activities for local peace partners.
“This is the third of the series of capacity building in conflict management for the reconstituted joint-border peace committees in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State,” she said. “This is now the final training covering Aweil South County and Aweil Municipality.”
The participants pledged to pass on the knowledge they have acquired to their respective communities.
Abuk Deng said, “We are delighted to be informed about peaceful means of conflict resolution and now hope for betterment and unity.”
Another trainee, John Atak Kuan, called for better relations among the local communities and said criminals should be brought to book.
“The workshop is going on well and we hope it will increase our knowledge so that we can create conducive relations among pastoralists,” he said. “Also, criminals and rustlers should be dealt with according to the law and all outstanding issues resolved.”
On his part, Gabriel Goma, said the communities need peace for the sake of the future generation.
“Peace is important as we are standing here for peace today,” he said. “We are happy and do not want something that kills our children.”