Youth activists in Yirol in the Greater Lakes region call for disarmament, better roads and more attention to youth issues to improve the chances of creating the conditions necessary for durable peace.

“This county is relatively stable, but we do have a lot of challenges,” says Mabor Bol Gach, youth chairperson of in his home county, Nyang.

Yirol is located 111 km from the Rumbek field office of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Mr. Gach says that poor roads and a lack of robust vehicles in Nyang County are two of the challenges to maintain peaceful coexistence in an area frequently plagued by cattle raiding and other forms of inter-communal violence, including revenge killings.

“When we are informed about security problems we cannot easily reach the location to engage with the conflicting cattle keepers,” says Mr. Gash, adding that it takes a full day of walking to reach some of the cattle camps in the area.

According to Peter Bol, the former youth chairperson in Nyang County, the main cause of most crimes committed in the area is that most cattle keepers and other civilians are armed.

Mr. Bol believes that the state of emergency declared in the Greater Lakes region will bring positive results. A process of disarming the civilian population is expected to start shortly.

“We [the youth] welcome the decision to disarm civilians in Greater Lakes states. Now we are waiting for concrete action from the government.”

Mabor Bol Gach, on the other hand, is not happy with how many non-governmental organizations operate in the area. He thinks they focus their attention mostly on government offices instead of working with the youth.

“They should know that the youth are the makers and destroyers of this nation,” Gach says.

Both Gach and Bol appreciate the frequency and nimbleness of the patrols conducted by integrated teams of the UN peacekeeping mission, despite the long distance they have to travel to reach their part of Greater Lakes. They also acknowledge and welcome the mission’s efforts to work with the youth to manage conflicts affecting local communities.

An integrated team from the peacekeeping mission recently held a sensitization workshop to inform security forces and prison personnel about their obligations to protect the rights of children. Civil Affairs Officer Victor Fasama reiterated that the mission is willing and ready to support all relevant stakeholders in protecting children from having their rights violated.

The integrated patrol team also met with various local authorities, paramount chiefs and women’s and youth groups.

Meanwhile the UNMISS Integrated team that has been to Yirol last week conducted a sensitization workshop on child protection.