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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / CIVIL MILITARY RELATION
TRT: 03:07
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH/ARABIC/NATS
DATELINE: 22 FEBRUARY 2023, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, market vendors
2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Mugo Muriithi, Team Leader, UNMISS Civil Affairs, Yei, Central Equatoria:
‘We need to have mechanisms on the ground whenever we have military outposts. They are military relations - the mechanism established between (traditional) chiefs and local commanders. So, in each outpost mechanisms were supposed to be established between chiefs and commanders to enhance security (and) address security and crime in the communities.”
3. Various shots, Army officers in the room
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Brigadier John Lual, Commander, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, Yei River County:
“This workshop will encourage our soldiers; it will also open up relations between soldiers and civil population in the villages where they live. We all must work for peace; with peace we have to respect each other. Civilians should respect (the) military and (the) military does the same.”
5. Various shots, delegates in the hall
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sultan Kon Badi, Resident, Yei River County:
“We are here because of peace. There should be no fight between military and civilians. Death has happened from both sides. As we have started peace dialogues, we have to agree. We should not use guns against civilians.”
7. Various shots, government officials in the hall
Efforts by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to encourage dialogue between communities in Yei, Central Equatoria, and uniformed personnel are focused on building trust and confidence, and ultimately, to encourage voluntary returns.
Repeated civil wars have led not only to death and displacement but also to a breakdown in civil-military relationships.
Today, a marked improvement can be seen across the county.
SOUNDBITE (English) James Mugo Muriithi, Team Leader, UNMISS Civil Affairs, Yei, Central Equatoria”
“We need to have mechanisms on the ground whenever we have military outposts. They are military relations - the mechanism established between (traditional) chiefs and local commanders. So, in each outpost mechanisms were supposed to be established between chiefs and commanders to enhance security (and) address security and crime in the communities.”
Uniformed personnel say they are aware of their responsibility to keep civilians safe and secure and are appreciative of the UN Peacekeeping mission’s efforts to help build positive relationships.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Brigadier John Lual, Commander, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, Yei River County:
“This workshop will encourage our soldiers; it will also open up relations between soldiers and civil population in the villages where they live. We all must work for peace; with peace we have to respect each other. Civilians should respect (the) military and (the) military does the same.”
The improvement in civil-military relations can be seen in the conversations that residents have about the need for uniformed personnel to be paid on time.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sultan Kon Badi, Resident, Yei River County:
“We are here because of peace. There should be no fight between military and civilians. Death has happened from both sides. As we have started peace dialogues, we have to agree. We should not use guns against civilians.”
While much remains to be done for an enduring peace in South Sudan, dialogues such as this one are key in garnering support for a prosperous future where all can live harmoniously.
