The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, yesterday arrived in the Western Bahr el Ghazal State capital Wau to better understand the challenges the people there are facing. 

The UN boss who arrived in Wau early morning Monday visited the unified military forces training center of Masana Biira before meeting state government officials.

Addressing the press after a short meeting with Deputy Governor Zackaria Joseph Garang, Haysom said they had fruitful discussions regarding the humanitarian situation and the scheduled cattle migration.

“I have had a very useful discussion and engagement with the state government in Western Bahr el Ghazal. We have a better understanding of the challenges faced by the people of Western Bahr el Ghazal,” Haysom said. “We have to recognize, those of us who are in Juba, that there are variations and particularities in every area and it is our duty to understand those challenges as the people face them.” 

He said the UN recognizes the important role played by the state in resolving most issues related to cattle herders and the local farmers.

“We had a good discussion which began by recognizing the important role played by Western Bahr el Ghazal State in setting a model to resolving the conflict related to migrant farmers and conflicts relating to intraparty and inter-party conflicts and the willingness to resolve these conflicts through dialogue and the role model this state can play to other states,” the UN boss said.

For his part, Deputy Governor Zackaria Joseph Garang assured the UN boss that the situation in the state is calm and normal.

“We assured him that the situation in the state is normal and calm and we are working in collaboration with the governor and the ministers,” Deputy Governor Garang said. “We are also working in collaboration with UNMISS and the other UN agencies.”

He revealed that their meeting also touched on the program for recovery of the communities since most of the people who had sought safety at the UN protection sites have voluntarily returned to their homes within the town.

“We also discussed the resilience recovery program in the state and the support that the UN agencies are giving to the state government and the vulnerable people in the counties,” Garang said. “We highlighted our work with our neighbors in Tonj County and Warrap State to implement the conference to prepare for the cattle migration season in the coming months.”