The UNMISS Public Information Section organized a two-day workshop with faith based groups to create awareness of the role of UNMISS. The workshop was held in the Nyakuron cultural center, in Juba.

John Ugolo, UNMISS Head of Field Office for Juba, said the faith based groups are important in bringing peace in the country.

 “The faith based organizations are important for peace; wellbeing, development and prosperity in this country. You are the ones who formulate morality, behavior and attitude that support peace in the country. The fear of God and forgiveness that you believe in can support South Sudan mostly because of what is going through”, he said.

Seth Kuma , Director for Political Affairs UNMISS said the responsibility to bring peace in South Sudan lies with the people of South Sudan.

“Peace in South Sudan will only be brought by South Sudanese and UNMISS only helps to create enabling environment for South Sudanese to realize it.”

Ruben Inaju, UNMISS Public Information Officer said South Sudanese signed peace among themselves  and that the  implementation  of the signed peace agreement is the responsibility of South Sudanese.

  “UNMISS only assists and supports the South Sudanese people to implement the peace they signed themselves.   Peace is not a community that you can buy and give to people. It is a process. Like it takes time to plan for war, it also takes time to bring peace.”

Inaju appealed to faith based participants to preach peace and love in their communities.

Josephine Iromo one of the participants in the workshop said she really did not understand UNMISS and its roles in South Sudan

“ In my area people think that UNMISS is against civilians. Today, I have come to know that our understanding that UNMISS is against civilians is wrong.  I urge our government to cooperate with UNMISS to bring about an end to the current conflict in the country… We want this conflict to end because women and children are the ones who bear the brunt. “

“I am really happy to have attended this workshop on UNMISS mandate. We were really living in the dark, said Caroline Kuta another participant.

She appealed to her fellow South Sudanese to unite and have peace in their hearts.

“ If we don’t have peace in our hearts, peace will never come in the country. With the current conflict in our country it tells me that there is no unity among ourselves... Without unity there will be no peace in our country.

Kenyi  Yasin Abdala a participant working for  Human Right Development Organization said he would take it upon himself to preach UNMISS mandate to those still  having negative perceptions towards UNMISS.

 “If I go out from here, I am going to teach those who have negative perceptions towards UNMISS.  Many people outside are still believing that UNMISS has come here to run parallel government so that they will be able to Know the truth. They cannot just say UNMISS is here to run parallel government, and wants to place this country under Africa Union protectorate.”

Rhoda Juma another participant said they were thinking that South Sudan conflict was caused by UNMISS.

“We were thinking that the conflict in South Sudan was caused by UNMISS. But today we have known the reality.  It is good that UNMISS is here to assist us to restore peace. We have our children and husbands who died in this conflict, this war must stop”, he said.

  Juma  called upon all South Sudanese to work for peace.

Helen Lemi said South Sudanese need UNMISS to play its role in the implementation of the peace agreement

“The work of UNMISS in the implementation of the peace agreement is what we need. We really need peace. Without peace there is no future for our children. We were thinking that UNMISS provides food that is why people are staying in Protection of civilians site because of availability of peace.”

She appealed to the president Salva Kiir to bring to an end the current conflict that has devastated the country.