UNMISS Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites Update No. 241 - 15 July 2019
UNMISS Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites Update No. 241 - 15 July 2019
Kuron: The Eastern Equatoria peace village that keeps growing, promoting smooth co-existence
“I want the children of this primary school to know it is possible to live with people from different clans as one. Just like I was privileged to experience during my youth,” explains retired Bishop Paride Taban. Growing up in the tranquil town of Katire in Eastern Equatoria, Paride thought life…
Trees of peace and reconciliation: Saplings planted in honour of Nelson Mandela Day
Music, sunshine, and an atmosphere of unity were in high supply in Juba on Thursday, as dignitaries and youths came together to mark the tenth anniversary of the Nelson Mandela Day, celebrated globally every year. Students from Juba University gathered with members of the diplomatic community and…
UN peacekeepers support local football club to foster inter-ethnic cohesion in Rajaf
Until just a few days ago, only the most determined and passionate of footballers would dare practice their fancy footwork and last-ditch sliding tackles in Jondoru village in Rajaf County near Juba. Its Peace Square, which saw the light of day some four years ago, was a rough and thorny piece of…
UNMISS Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites Update No. 242 - 22 July 2019
UNMISS Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites Update No. 242 - 22 July 2019
Jies in Kassengor call for humanitarian assistance and support peace talks with neighbours
Seasonal migrations and a frequent scarcity of grazing pastures and water holes have resulted in recurrent skirmishes in the area between Boma and Kapoeta in the Eastern Equatoria region. The fighting comes at the price of severe food shortages. “We have been living on wild herbs and fruits because…
Enrolment up in one Magwi school as the displaced return home
Pajok Primary School in the Magwi area registered less than 200 new students in 2018, but that number has doubled. The new enrolment figure for 2019 now stands at 374, thanks in part to returning refugees and internally displaced people. “Out of this 178 are returnees, and 12 teachers have returned…
Inter-religious committee established to help resolve intercommunal conflicts in Greater Jonglei
In a bid to make the most of their arguably significant influence on the attitudes and behaviour of the South Sudanese people, religious leaders in the Greater Jonglei region have established an inter-religious committee to urge feuding communities to reconcile. “We can help rebuild the trust that…
UNMISS Force Commander leads patrol to deter armed attacks on road to Nimule
In the pre-dawn darkness, civilian and military peacekeepers gather for a security briefing as they prepare to head out on patrol along a road that has been a hotspot for armed ambushes. Protected by Nepalese troops in armoured personnel carriers, the convoy leaves the safety of the United Nations…
MirMir boys reclaim their future as they leave military lives behind
To paraphrase a famous man on the moon: this day marked a small step for South Sudan but a giant leap for 32 boys in MirMir in the country’s northern Unity region. Trading in their weapons and uniforms for backpacks filled with essentials, they have bid farewell to their precocious military lives…
UNMISS prepares for expected homecomings by learning from Khartoum returnees
How can a poor, war-torn, post-conflict country prepare itself to reintegrate thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons expected to return to their homes? Maybe by learning from its own recent history. That was the rationale as the Rumbek Field Office of the United Nations Mission in…
Civil-military dialogue boosts confidence-building efforts in Magwi
Worries over unrest flaring up once again are fading away among the civilian population in Magwi in Eastern Equatoria, following a civil-military dialogue initiated by the United Nations mission in South Sudan. “We the women have borne the brunt of this war with our children. As peace has now been…