13 March 2014 - To boost trade and encourage community events, UNMISS handed over two cultural centres and a market in a ceremony today in Raja County, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.

The cultural centres are in Raja and Boro Medina, while the vegetable market hall is in Raja, where the ceremony was held.

“We are handing over today … a market hall … to stimulate trade and … economic development,” said Derk Segaar, UNMISS Recovery, Reintegration and Peacebuilding chief. “We have a beautiful building here that will also help with training and development.”

Deputy Governor Zakaria Joseph Garang urged residents to make good use of the facilities in improving their living standards. “The nice building and market that I have seen … is not development alone. Our ability to use these facilities for the benefit of our citizens is the real development.”

“I am happy that what was a dream has come to fulfillment” said Raja County Commissioner Hassan Jalab, praising the roles played by different partners in completing the projects.

UNMISS State Coordinator Winnie Babihuga urged the government to continue maintaining peace and stability in the state, which has so far evaded the South Sudan conflict. “You cannot build this beautiful centre if bullets are (being) thrown around.”