South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization has launched a civil-military dialogue in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, to promote peaceful coexistence between civilians and the military.
William Lokodo, the program manager for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, said that the decisions made during the civil-military dialogue will be implemented throughout the county.
Lokodo revealed that recommendations from previous civil-military dialogues in Yei River County had not been acted upon, emphasising that a review of these recommendations will facilitate their implementation.
“This is an opportunity for participants to express their views on amending certain provisions of previous decisions. Everyone desires peace; we do not want peace merely in words, but in actions,” said Lokodo.
The civil-military dialogue, spearheaded by the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, is conducted in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund, Finn Church Aid, the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative, and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Joseph Prabun Musa, the chairperson of the peace committee in Yei River County, said that the dialogue will enable the people of Yei River County to restore peace and harmony.
“Initiatives have been launched to promote dialogue; insecurity in Yei River County has hindered ongoing development efforts and undermined the social fabric of the area, making reconciliation and peace-building difficult,” Musa commented.
“Yei was a good place in the past, where love prevailed among the people. Now, some areas are completely deserted, and most residents have left due to insecurity. We need peace in Yei River County,” he added.
Emmanuel Taban, the Commissioner of Yei River County, noted that the relationship between civilians and the military is cordial, adding that the military is tasked with protecting civilians and their properties.
“We need to build respect and a good relationship. Soldiers were civilians before they underwent military training; we are bound by strong family ties, and both soldiers and civilians must respect each other,” Taban said.
“The biggest problem in South Sudan is tribalism, which is detrimental to society. We all need to combat tribalism, and it is time to address this issue within state institutions across the country,” he asserted.
Alex Lodong, the Catholic Bishop of Yei River County, stated that the dialogue aims to build trust between civilians and the military, with efforts focused on strengthening social cohesion in Yei River County.
“The dialogue between the military and citizens is not easy, but the situation has improved. The Yei market is now functioning well, which indicates a need to build trust between the military and the citizens,” Lodong remarked.
The civil-military dialogue, held under the theme “Embrace Peace and Build Resilience for Sustainable Development,” aims to create a peaceful and conducive environment for refugees and internally displaced persons to return and rebuild their lives in Yei River County.
