Becoming a politician comes with a lot of responsibilities. Political leaders must be familiar with their role, know how to cooperate and how to build trust among citizens.

Fortunately for some 120 newly appointed public servants in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan organized a three-day leadership retreat in Aweil for them.

“This forum brought together representatives from all the different political parties. We understand that we have to work together as one team and serve the interests of the people and the country rather than those of the parties we are affiliated with,” said Muhktar Bol Tong, Chairperson of the National Congress Party.  

One such greater good is the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018. Getting to know the details of the responsibilities of state-level politicians in pursuing that goal - including tricky but vital tasks like security sector arrangements, transitional justice, the elaboration of a permanent constitution and the reconstitution of the state’s transitional legislative assembly - was therefore an integral part of the training.

The gender composition of the public servants gathered at the leadership retreat revealed one persistent challenge: women’s relatively poor political representation. Only 25 per cent of the participants were women, compared with the peace deal’s stipulation that women should be allocated at least 35 per cent of all political posts.

“It’s true, that provision has not been fully implemented. We are doing our level best to advocate and lobby for this to happen as soon as possible,” said Margaret Henry, one of 30 women in attendance. “My message to the leadership is that I want to see a sufficient number of female representatives in all political parties. Enough is enough: we are the mothers of the youths being used to fight in this country. This has to stop, we need peace.”

Political cooperation, then, will be key to fulfill the many commitments made when signing the peace accord.

“One important part of this workshop was our discussion about equality and the law, which demands that all parties be treated equally and fairly. Unfairness leads to non-cooperation and is counterproductive,” said Akol Lual, a representative of the African National Congress party.

To promote constructive dialogue, participants were equipped with tools needed to deal with political tensions through consultations, including to fully implement the peace agreement at the sub-national level. How to consolidate democratic principles during the transitional period meant to lead up to a general election was another topic on the agenda.

“This group of politicians have established a communique which encompasses all the discussions held at the retreat. It will be signed by the Deputy Governor prior to its adoption by the Council of Ministers as a road map for the people of Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, said Pia Philip, the Undersecretary of the National Ministry of Peacebuilding, who had travelled from Juba to lecture on peace.

Beleteze Foretla, a Political Affairs Officer serving with the peacekeeping mission, was content with the training, which is expected to be replicated in other parts of the country.

“We are hopeful that the state government here will be able to do its part to implement the peace deal and will continue to engage with political leaders to promote peace,” he said.