Global Courant
Download logo
As South Sudan looks forward to holding its first-ever free, fair and credible elections in December 2024, it is critical to encourage voluntary returns by those internally displaced by conflict and civil war.
Refugees who have fled the turbulent times in this young country in recent years also have the right to return to their original settlements and participate in building a brighter, more prosperous South Sudan.
To this end, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recently organized training on the management of the return and reintegration process for provincial commissioners and senior officials of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission of Eastern Equatoria.
“We expect South Sudanese to return home soon. We must be ready to help them and prioritize their needs at the local level. Such training equips us with the necessary knowledge to receive it,” said Jacob Atari Albano, Torit County Commissioner.
The initiative falls within the mandated goals of the UN peacekeeping mission to create a safe environment for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees and displaced persons.
“At this pivotal time in South Sudan’s history, we are delighted to help make conditions favorable for citizens living away from home for extended periods of time,” revealed Anthony Nwapa, acting head of the UNMISS field office in Torit.
“We are encouraged to hear that people are willing to leave the wounds of the past and return to fully contribute to a peaceful democratic transition. But at the same time, the government must have frameworks in place that enable returnees to retrace their steps home and rebuild their lives. Therefore, we felt this was an opportune time to increase the capabilities of all stakeholders responsible for managing returns at the provincial level,” he further explained.
Augustine Okuma, the chair of the Eastern Equatoria Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, agreed.
“We will coordinate with these newly trained officers to improve returnee livelihood activities. Providing services for the newly returned is essential to ensure their successful reintegration into society,” he clarified.
Such activities are part of the mission’s ongoing commitment to creating locally led capabilities to address and overcome the consequences of conflict in South Sudan.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
This press release is issued by APO. The content is not checked by the African Business editors and none of the content has been checked or validated by our editors, proofreaders or fact-checkers. The publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
