The streets of Juba were today lit up in midday excitement, as David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), joined some 400 boda boda motorcyclists, riding through the city in a campaign aimed at increasing road safety awareness, and promoting peace.

“It’s about protection … protecting civilians,” Mr. Shearer later told reporters, explaining why UNMISS was leading the campaign. “You know, we are protecting civilians in conflict, but also protecting civilians on the streets. If we can make people have a safer experience on the back of a motorbike, it’s good for everybody,” he said, at an event where he donated some 1,500 safety helmets and 1,500 reflective jackets to the riders.

“I am very happy, and thank you to UNMISS,” said Simon Deng, an excited recipient of a new, shiny white helmet and an orange reflective jacket, both emblazoned with the day’s campaign slogan, ‘Ride for Peace. Ride for Safety.’

“Now I can ride safely, because this helmet will protect me if I fall down, and this jacket will reflect at night, so people driving cars will see me easily. We thank the leader of UNMISS,” said a beaming Deng, unable to hide his excitement.

“It’s very, very important for us to have helmets and reflectors. In case of accident, it protects,” said Wek Kenyi, also donning a bright, orange reflective vest.

“Every boda boda person can only ride where there’s peace. If there’s no peace, no one can ride,” said Jackson Nimbona, a Burundian boda boda rider plying his trade in Juba.

Like in other East African countries, boda boda is a motorcycle taxi service commonly found in South Sudan, and considered one of the backbones of the country’s economy. Today’s campaign, organized by the South Sudan Boda Boda Association and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), sought to highlight the safety issues that commercial riders face, and to improve their situation.

“I’m very, very happy today as part of UNMISS, to be here and to be supporting the Boda Boda Association and these really critical members of our society that help Juba to move. If it wasn’t for these guys Juba wouldn’t be moving, I don’t think, as much as it is,” said Mr. Shearer, acknowledging the important role that the riders play in the capital.

In recognition of this role, the Mission recently brought together some 130 boda boda riders between 12 and 15 March 2018, to participate in a road safety workshop, at which they learned about defensive riding, emergency riding, and road etiquette.

“If these boda boda riders – the people that have gone through the training programme – can talk to other drivers and inculcate better means of safety, that’s good for not only the boda bodas, but everybody on the road,” said Mr. Shearer, referring to the workshop.

During the workshop, the Mission’s transport team reminded motorcyclists of the three things to respect: road signs, safe speed, and other motorists’ right of way, including the importance of keeping a safe distance between two vehicles.

"This was by far my best boda boda ride, ever," said the head of the UN Mission, in an address to the boda boda riders and other members of the public present at the terminus of today’s event. The event also featured comedy, music and dance performances by popular South Sudanese artists, including New Flag dancers; comedians Wokil (Jesh Commando) and VIP; and singers Diing Anyai, Crazy Fox and Alex Mantanni.

UNMISS has been supporting the taxi-hailing association in line with the Mission mandate of protection of civilians, as it engages in other initiatives aimed at building durable peace in the country.