The UNMISS Civil Affairs Division, supported by the Institute for the Development of Civil Society (IDCS), today concluded a two-day training to educate participants on dialogue skills necessary in resolving domestic conflicts in Jubek State.

Geetha Pious, Head of Civil Affairs Division (CAD) in Juba Field Office, said that the training aims to equip attendees with skills that promote social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.

Ms. Geetha said that expanding skills of local actors to promote dialogue and encourage reconciliation in their respective locales would enable decision-makers to undertake own initiatives that help defuse local ethnic tension.

“If communities have frustrations, or problems, which are not addressed peacefully those frustrations will grow, and they will become a huge conflict…resulting in violence,” she said.

“The different tribes in Juba must preach, understand and foster the spirit of co-existence in order for them to live together peacefully through social unity,” Juba City Legislative Council Speaker, Michael Allah-Jabu said.

“The city is the capital of the Republic of South Sudan,” The Speaker said. “Wherever there is a state, a county, or a village, it will compose of people from different ethnicities…because some of our villages…and towns are…like a magnet to people.”

Mr. Allah-Jabu, however, said that the city was struggling to curb a soaring rate of criminality because of what he termed as bad attitudes and behaviours of some ethnicities, exampled by a recent grenade attack at Mangaten and an attack of football fans in Gurei.

“I want all residents of Juba to behave themselves, understand and respect the regulations and orders of the host system, so that the city will be that of people…who do things in line with others,” he stressed.

“We urge participants to utilize the skills gained from the workshop to arrange Intercommunity dialogue forums at various locations in the state,” said Olivia Victoria, UNMISS CAD Officer.

Ms. Victoria added that UNMISS and its partner IDCS will be ready to support such efforts.

Covering 25 and 26 November, the workshop drew together 50 participants, comprising chiefs, Juba City counsellors, women and youth leaders, among others.