Yambio residents push to have peace agreement translated into local languages

More than two hundred residents in Yambio town say that South Sudan’s peace deal should be translated into Zande and other local languages.

More than two hundred residents in Yambio town say that South Sudan’s peace deal should be translated into Zande and other local languages.

The call was made during the dissemination of the August peace agreement to traditional leaders and the residents of Naagori, Mukongo, Kuzee and Akorogbodi areas in Yambio town, and organized by the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO). 

Translating the peace agreement into local languages will help South Sudanese who don’t speak English understand whats in the agreement, the residents say.

Common people who only read Zande language find it difficult to read and understand whats in the agreement, Justin John, a resident of Kuzee Boma in Yambio town said during one meeting.

Local residents have only heard the agreement on the radio, a local resident in Yambio said at a different discussion. Dissemination of the peace agreement should occur at the grass roots level so that people can understand whats in the peace agreement, the man said.

Over 200 booklets with information about the agreement have already been distributed in Yambio said Benjamin Ibako, a local leader. 

Cyrillo Mohinigamu the CEPO State Coordinator, said his organization is ready to translate the peace agreement into Zande language.