The newly sworn-in Western Bahr-el-Ghazal government officials drawn from the political divide over the weekend participated in a three-day trust and confidence-building retreat.

The officials comprised 17 state ministers, five advisors, 30 officials of the states’ independent commissions, and three county commissioners.

The training, organized by the state government and sponsored by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), aimed at building trust to work together for the welfare of the citizens regardless of their political background.

Speaking after the closing, Kamil Wana Uraj, the local government and law enforcement minister told Radio Tamazuj that the training focused on working together to implement the peace agreement. 

“This workshop concerned how as a government of national unity, with our different political parties, we can govern ourselves and reach the interest of the country. First, we benefited because we want to review ourselves and we return to trust-building between the government and the civilians who have suffered during the past conflict,” Uraj said. “They were waiting for peace but now peace has come. That is why the unity government has been formed to implement the peace.”

Jecinto Mateyio Mboro, the Wau County Commissioner, said the training empowered them with the knowledge that would enable them to work as a team. 

“During the three days training, we were brainstorming because we have come from different directions but we come to work for the citizens of the state and South Sudan. We have come to implement the peace agreement. The skills we acquired here make us one government,” Mboro said.

According to Saam Mahamure, the UNMISS state coordinator, the officials committed themselves during the training.

“In my view, there were frank discussions. We started on most of the issues that we think are very critical for running this government cohesively and cooperatively that can enable the population to have trust in you,” Mahamure said. “Over the last three days, we made hard commitments. The talking is done, it is time now for action. We must start working on the commitments we made so that the population can have trust in this government.” 

The deputy governor, Angelo Taban, called on the participants to take action and responsibility. 

“I think it is our commitment and I hope all of us in this peace hall are all committed to peace implementation. Every point that was being discussed or raised here is supposed to be respected,” Taban said. 

The training was conducted under the theme: ‘People first – building trust for a united and inclusive government’.