The high-level delegation of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) arrived in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal state capital on Thursday.
The team led by the chair of the PBC, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith (Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations), arrived in South Sudan on Tuesday for a three-day visit to follow up on the Peacebuilding stakeholder meeting in South Sudan on 26 October 2022.
Addressing the press after meeting the state officials at the council of ministers, the chair Ambassador Abdul Muhith said their visit to South Sudan and Western Bahr el Ghazal specifically is to assess the impact of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) funded project on the communities.
“We are here to witness the progress in the peacebuilding process in South Sudan particularly in the context of the implementation aspect of the revitalize agreement and also the transitional progress,” he said. “Also, to explore ways how the peacebuilding commission can further engage with the government and the people of South Sudan to build peace and also to sustain peace in this great country.”
The team met different beneficiaries of the project including groups of youths, women, and traditional leaders all trained in business skills, livelihood skills, and peacebuilding respectively.
Speaking on behalf of the Western Bahr el Ghazal state government, the state cabinet affairs minister Elia Kamilo Dimo acknowledged the impact of the peacebuilding funds it contributed to the welfare of the state citizens.
“As the government of Western Bahr el Ghazal, we are proud to welcome you to one of the most peaceful states in the Republic of South Sudan. As you can see now, our gang groups have transformed because of your support and because of the willingness of the state government to come together,” said Dimo.
“We are looking forward that we continue with such kind of partnership. In Western Bahr el Ghazal State we have three counties, Raja, Wau, and Jur River. We look forward that IOM, CEPO, and by your support, these types of activities to be taken to these counties so that all our youth in Western Bahr el Ghazal state are transformed and this is all about peace,” he added.
The PBC is composed of Member States, elected from the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council of this team includes H.E Joan Cedano (Deputy Permanent Representative of Dominican Republic) and H.E Osama Abdelkhalek (Permanent Representative of Egypt) and Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) Assistant Secretary General Ms. Elizabeth Spehar.
It is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries and is a key addition to the capacity of the International Community in the broad peace agenda.