5 September 2014 - Assisting former soldiers to re-enter civilian life, UNMISS today handed over 18 market stalls to the payam (district) administrator in Mapel, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.

The stalls are part of a mission Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) project to help ex-combatants become self-reliant through small businesses.

“These shops will be used by the ex-combatants to generate income for themselves,” said Mapel Administrator William Deng Piem, noting that the project had contributed to the payam’s development.

“I want to see that these shops are functioning to provide needed service to the people in Mapel,” said William Tong, director of the state DDR Commission. He urged beneficiaries to care for the shops and use them for the sole purpose of business.

“This project has been completed and is now ready for your usage,” said Olayiwola Awolowo, UNMISS Wau DDR Officer.