To enhance conflict mitigation through traditional conflict transformation mechanisms, UNMISS today organized a workshop in the Lakes State capital Rumbek.

The event drew together government officials, county leaders, payam administrators, traditional leaders, youth and women from various counties in the state.

“This workshop will help enlighten our people to traditionally solve their differences in an amicable way so that peace is restored to our state as soon as possible,” said Deputy State Speaker Ayen Meen Ador in her opening remarks.

Decrying the lack of peace, a participant called Chief Sultan Mathiang Marial Wul blamed the government for not being serious in their work. He cited an example of the lack of co-operation between some chiefs and local government authorities.

“Yes, for sure peace is vital and it is what everyone wants but if the one who killed your relative is not apprehended, it is a different situation altogether,” he said. “Chiefs in Cueibet do co-operate with county authorities to apprehend the culprits, which is not the case here in Rumbek.”

Benjamin Yuol, an UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer, took participants through various traditional conflict resolution methods in Africa and stressed that traditional mechanisms are the best way to resolve problems.

The State Peace Advisor, Chol Kolnyin, also gave examples of instances where traditional conflict resolution mechanisms had succeeded in the state.

“The Cueibet-Rumbek North peace initiative was conducted in February to March this year by local communities themselves and ever since, there has been no conflict reported between the two counties,” said Mr. Kolnyin

He also gave examples of Greater Akot, where Nyuei reconciled with Panyaar, and Dur-Bar reconciled with Dur-Chek.

There was an opportunity to use the lessons learned to mitigate and resolve conflict through the traditional mechanisms, Timothy Hudner, the UNMISS Civil Affairs team leader in the state, said at the end of the workshop.

“We heard a few presentations and pieces of advice from facilitators,” he said. “Now (it is up to us) to devise ways of reinvigorating traditional methods of conflict resolution especially here in Lakes State.”

Closing the workshop, Ms. Ador urged the government, UNMISS and other partners to continue on the journey of finding ways to promote peace and stability.