The UNMISS Civil Affairs Division (CAD) conducted a strategic one-day workshop geared towards aiding civil society organizations (CSOs) in Rumbek in conflict management in the region. The workshop focused on strengthening relations between UNMISS and the CSOs in the areas of peace building, conflict resolution and mitigation. 

Chol Kuotwel Manhom, chief negotiator and deputy speaker of Western Lakes State legislative assembly, acknowledged the challenges the local population face when confronted with conflict.

“Our problem, as people of the Greater Lakes, is not the conflict per se but our inability to deal with the conflict. Our people should change the way we respond to conflict. I urge you to disseminate this knowledge to our people,” Chol told the workshop participants.

The chairperson of CISON, a network of civil society organizations in the former Lakes States, Isaac Majier Majok, applauded UNMISS for providing the group with the skills to resolve and mitigate conflicts.

“On behalf of the network, I would like to profoundly thank CAD for giving us the capacity to be ambassadors of peace in the Lakes States, we are now fully empowered and ready to serve,” said Majier.