By Charles K Mark
A three-day political parties’ forum is underway in Western Bahr El Ghazal’s capital, Wau.
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) organized the engagement in collaboration with other stakeholders to the peace agreement.
It seeks to devise ways to increase political tolerance, trust and avoid hate speech, as well as further engender the processes so that women are not left behind as they engage and represent their constituents.
Varaidzo Carol Mupunga, who represented the AU special envoy Prof. Joram Biswaro, emphasizes commitment on implementation of the peace agreement.
“We must continue to truthfully, in letter and spirit, encourage our political leadership to implement, fully and timeously, Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the agreement alongside Chapter 6,” she said.
Mupunga encourages robust and frequent political parties’ engagements believing that it will enable tolerance, trust, and confidence amongst the political players.
“We also encourage the opening up of the civic space to educate the masses on the processes that have been carried out, those ongoing, and those to be carried out in the future.”
Speaking also on behalf of RJMEC representative Major General Charles Tai Gituai at the opening of the engagement, Esther Kyewalabye Wani, senior Humanitarian Advisor outlined that improving trust and confidence amongst political parties is important.
She said the forum would also examine the roles of political parties in peaceful elections, constitution-making process and expanding the civic and political space.
Other objectives of the forum include increasing of women and youth participation in politics.
UNMISS Head of Field Office in Wau Mr. Sam Muhumere said it’s through such forums, the political parties can choose a political system that will take the country forward.
“The African Union, R-JMEC, UNMISS, and all international actors you see here do not have solutions to your problems. It is you who can come up with those solutions,” said Sam.
Western Bahr el Ghazal state minister of health, Vincent Taban, who spoke on behalf of the governor, Sarah Cleto, said the forum was so vital at such a time.
Taban explained that the deliberation could help enhance the political participation of all members of society and also to clear some issues that arise within the political arena.
The political parties’ forum is under the Theme “Building Synergies for Democratic Governance and Sustainable Peace building.”