The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is set to hold a political parties forum on Tuesday in Aweil Town in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to promote civic and political space.
The three-day forum will bring together political leaders, partners, and stakeholders to discuss the status of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, the constitution-making process, expanding civic and political space, and elections among others.
The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Political Affairs and deputy head of UNMISS, Guang Cong, who arrived in Aweil on Monday morning ahead of the workshop, said the forum will create awareness about the importance of the civic political space.
“We will be conducting this forum in all ten states and the three special administrative areas to raise awareness about the importance of the civic political space and also the importance of enhancing collaborations, coalitions between the governments, the security sectors, civil society, and political parties so that we are all able to work together to improve the environment to prepare for credible, peaceful, free and fair elections in December 2026,” said Cong.
He revealed that the forum also aims to unite political parties to enhance cooperation and collaboration in the implementation of the 2018 peace pact to pave the way for a democratic and peaceful political transition in the country.
For his part, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Governor Simon Ober Mawut said he stopped people from being obsessed or preoccupied with partisan politics in the state.
“The key priorities of this administration are three. One of them is the unity of our people, and you cannot talk of unity here if you do not give that political space. I made it very clear when I was appointed that it is time to stop being obsessed or preoccupied with this partisan politics in this state and I hope my colleagues here will attest to this,” he said. “I also want to report that you (UNMISS) have a gifted team down here. They are playing a very instrumental role in educating our people. Aweil is peaceful not because there are no problems. There are always hiccups here and there.”