The state ministry of youth and sports in Western Equatoria on Monday launched a three-day conference on life skills, peace building and conflict resolution under the theme ‘Youth as constructive citizens for peace’.
Speaking during the opening of the conference, Western Equatoria’s State Minister of Youth and Sports Bullen Wande said the young should keep away from conflict and embrace peace.
“Maridi has got six tribes. And those six tribes have lived together for so many hundreds of years. There has been no single day that there is a record, in the record of those who have been living here in Maridi, of any violence between those communities here in Maridi.”
“When we are talking about violence, conflicts and peace, although Western Equatoria does not experience that – but let us get prepared – let us be preparing our minds, let us be preparing the youth, preparing ourselves so that we don’t involve in violence in one way or the other.”
The president of the state youth union Simple John warned participants in the workshop from political manipulation.
“Those politicians they have different interests, isn’t it? …We want a politician who can help us, who can deliver, who can unite us, who can not divide us. This is what we are looking for.”
“And it is going to be our duty also to direct them, because they are our brothers. When we see one taking us wrong, we put him down and say my brother, where are you taking us?”
The conference was attended by youths from the four counties of Nzara, Yambio, Ibba and Maridi of Western Equatoria State.
File photo