Aiming to help conflicting parties at the local level to work together to achieve reconciliation, UNMISS recently organized a roundtable discussion in Leer County, southern Unity State.

“(Alongside efforts) at the national level in terms of the peace agreement, our experience here in Unity State is that efforts to bring peace to the community must start at lower level,” said UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Ibishomi Abdulbaqi.

Noting that the meeting held on 10 December was organized with support from the local government, Mr. Abdulbaqi said the intention was to bring together civilians and traditional leaders the county to have a discussion.

Participants identified local problems, came up with some resolutions on how to move forward to bring peace to the community and established three committees from two conflicting sides to work on the issues, he added.

“The committee on cessation of hostilities will engage in monitoring cessation of hostilities and criminality, particularly cattle raid whereas the sensitization committee would work on sensitizing youth against criminality,” said Mr. Abdulbaqi.

A third committee responsible for operational activities is charged with the facilitation of the continuation of dialogue and exchange of ideas to come up on how to solve issues arising, he said.

He noted  that UNMISS and the Inter-governmental Authority on Development will provide support in facilitating and follow up of the work of the committees.  

UNMISS has maintained a constant presence in Leer since November 2015 by deploying a company from the Mongolian Battalion in the town.

The presence of the peacekeepers in vital in enhancing situational awareness about activities of conflicting parities, enabling monitoring of human rights abuses, monitoring movements of internally displaced persons and facilitating protection of civilians.