Roundtable discussion on peacebuilding. (Photo: Baria Johnson/Eye Radio).

A roundtable discussion on peace building facilitated by Safer World Organization has concluded with numerous recommendations including calls for disarmament, capacity building in government institutions and reduction of dowry to reduce cattle related conflicts.

Held in Juba on January 28, the discussion brought participants from Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei and Upper Nile States. It also recommended enhancing road infrastructure and industrial sectors to boost youth employment among others.

The engagement aims to provide a platform for stakeholders and community leaders to discuss a briefing paper by Safer World on Peace and Stability in South Sudan. The dialogue reflected on insights and recommendations from roundtable discussions at states level.

Safer World Country Director Mauro Tadiwe said the event the discussion is to influence and move positive change forwards to communities at the grassroots.

“This event today is one search level that we are bringing now evidence form the grassroots to the national level and with the aim of influencing and helping to move things forwards for the communities at the grassroots level,” he said.

David Deng, a participant from Jonglei state, said it is important to strengthen capacity building and leadership skills in key government institutions in order to address governance and law enforcement challenges and ensure access to justice.

According to him, communication among government agencies should also be enhanced to close communication gaps.

“One thing we need to do is capacity building on leadership skills to government institutions. This is to be done to key government institutions that are playing a role at all levels. There is also need to enhance communication between government institutions because there is a communication gap among the government institutions.”

On cattle raiding and cattle related conflicts, Nyalong Ohieu Kiir, a participant from Upper Nile state says the government need to conduct disarmament to remove illegal fire arms from the hands of civilians.

She added that dowry needs to be reduced to address cattle related conflicts.

“Our discussion was cattle raiding and cattle related conflicts. The solution is to incorporate traditional conflicts resolution dialogues, it can be done by chiefs, women and youths.”

“There is need to advocate for reduction of dowry to be enforced and implemented. The SSPDF needs to conduct disarmament to ensure all the illegal fire arms are taken and placed in one place.”

Meanwhile, Eastern Equatoria Minister of Peace Building Maiuko Lokidor said the civil war and other conflicts interrupted the social fabrics of the country, hindering youths from employment.

Lokidor further appealed to the government to boost the agricultural and industrial sector to open employment opportunities for young people.

“In our findings number one is about the war and conflicts as a result of that the war interrupted the social fabric of the country and unemployment became rampant among youths. Roads, agriculture, factories and companies needs to be established to employ the youths.”

Others areas discussed were land disputes and environment issues, youth unemployment, Cross boarder issues, use of small arms and light weapons and gender based violence, discrimination and abduction of women and children.

Safer world is an independent international organization with over 35 years work in conflict prevention and peacebuilding programmes.