Approximately 40 participants attended 3 days of training on transitional justice and peace and reconciliation in the Bentiu PoC site. The participants were traditional leaders, representatives of women’s and youth groups and civil society organizations.

The training was to enable the participants to understand the current Peace Agreement and the role of traditional leaders in peace building and reconciliation.

The workshop was organized by the civic society organization, Dialogue and Research Initiative, and was funded by the United Nations Development Programme along with support of the UNMISS Human Rights Division.

Malek Kuok, Dialogue and Research Initiative program officer explained, “The Hybrid Court is hopefully going to be formed because it is enshrined in the Compromise Peace Agreement.”

UNMISS Civil Affairs officer, Victor Fasama, said that transitional justice is a fundamental component of the Peace Agreement which brings to the fore accountability which will further contribute to the healing and reconciliation processes.

The interim chairperson of High Committee in the Bentiu PoC, Mr. Manguany Dang, spoke about the awareness he gained from the workshop, “Anybody who committed crimes will be held accountable for them, this is very much accepted”.