Historic meeting place in Torit to be rescued by UNMISS Quick Impact project

Historic meeting place in Torit to be rescued by UNMISS Quick Impact project

Historic meeting place in Torit to be rescued by UNMISS Quick Impact project

24 Jan 2018

Historic meeting place in Torit to be rescued by UNMISS Quick Impact project

Leni Kinzli

With graffiti marking its historic walls and large cracks splitting the cement floor, the pillars of the B’Court facility can hardly hold the weight of its iron-sheeted roof, the building verges on collapse.

The facility in the center of Torit town in the eastern Equatorian region of South Sudan was originally built in 1946 as an important gathering place to resolve traditional community issues. It has had a rough history over the course of its 72 years with its straw roof burning down twice until the roof was replaced with iron sheets.

The original pillars and foundation have managed to survive the wear and tear of years of violent conflict. However, the latest assessment of its structural safety suggested the complex had reached the end of its life.

Despite this warning, the community is putting themselves at risk by still using B’Court as a meeting place to hold traditional court sessions dealing with land disputes, property inheritances, marriage, allegations of theft and demands for cattle compensation.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is stepping in to rescue the historic center so that the local community can continue to hold important meetings, including talks designed to progress peace in the area. The facility will be completely rehabilitated as part of an UNMISS Quick Impact Project.

Community members, government officials and UN staff gathered at the site to launch the project this week.

The Head Chief of the Torit Municipal Council, Mathew Oduma, outlined the positive effects that the rehabilitation of B’Court will have on the community.

“The re-opening of the B’Court will help reduce crime and minimize violence because it offers a gathering place for the community to resolve issues peacefully in a traditional manner. It will help improve relationships within the community,” he said.

The acting Head of UNMISS Field Office in Torit, Bashir Aligelle, explained the details of the construction, highlighting the aim of Quick Impact Projects.

“The work that’s going to be done at this B’Court will include the rehabilitation of the whole building, provision of furniture and stationery, construction of latrines, and benches,” he said. “The Quick Impact Projects are small scale, rapidly implemented projects funded by the UN peacekeeping operations with the aim of creating an improved environment for mandate implementation.”

In a ceremonial gesture, government officials and the acting Head of UNMISS officially launched the rehabilitation by shoveling earth into a pit near the construction site and unveiling the sign markingmark the project’s initiation.

UNMISS also launched a second Quick Impact Project in Torit to construct a Water and Sanitation Facility at the Special Protection Unit at the Central Police station to provide women detainees with safe facilities to use.

Both projects are being implemented in partnership with the Moonlight Development Organization and are scheduled to be completed within three months. UNMISS has funded and completed more than a dozen QIPs in the Eastern Equatoria region between 2012 and 2017 and will continue to use these projects to help build a durable peace in the region.