Residents along the rivers Turubwa and Bundri in Mundri West County are rejoicing, and why would they not? Thanks to two new bridges, they are no longer forced to cross sometimes flooded overpasses on foot.

“We used to fall into the water with our cassava flour and other crops on our way to the market, but now we feel safe and relieved,” said local farmer Mary Samiah, commenting on the two shining pieces of infrastructure financed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and built, over the last three months, by the Hope Alive Educational Foundation.

Not only markets but also healthcare facilities, friends and schools are now significantly easier to reach for the good people of Mundri West, who are expected to enjoy a commercial boom, improved livelihoods and classes starting on time as dividends of the two multidirectional bridges.

“As students, we would often find ourselves stranded at school due to the flooded river, sometimes resulting in getting home late, much to the ire of our parents. We had no choice but to remove our shoes and clothes in order to cross the water,” explained 16-year-old Victoria Wilson, a student at the Ezra Baya Primary School, confirming that delays would at times occur traversing in the other direction as well.

Peacekeepers, humanitarian partners, security forces and rescue personnel are also benefitting from the improved road connections.

“These connections greatly improve service delivery and the swift deployment of security and emergency responses,” said Zelipha Dawa, the Mundri West County Commissioner.

Increased mobility, not least the way it can bring people together, is something that Thomas Bazawi, a representative of the peacekeeping mission, is also a fan of.

“These initiatives all contribute to achieving lasting peace in Western Equatoria and in South Sudan as a whole, and that is, at the end of the day, our top priority,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

“During the civil wars of 2013 and 2016, we never imagined a time would come when we could be free to assemble and discuss the future of our nation without fear,” says Stephen Mathiang Deng, Minister for Cabinet Affairs in Lakes state, South Sudan.

Minister Deng was speaking at a three-day interaction, supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which brought together key stakeholders—politicians, youth, women, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and academics—to begin constructive conversations on the route towards free, fair, and inclusive elections that are currently scheduled for December 2024.

“Earlier, there was pervasive fear among communities, even to go to a local market. These days it is different. Stores and shops are open, vendors ply their wares; and people convene to talk to one another. It is this dialogue on the way forward towards a more peaceful, prosperous future, that we, as the government, would like to encourage,” adds the Minister, assuring all gathered of the state’s commitment to nurturing spaces for consistent civic and political engagement by all.

Intense and detailed discussions by participants focused on the roles and responsibilities of the National Elections Commission (NEC); the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) and the Political Parties Council (PPC). Stakeholders also sought updates on the status of the Tumaini Peace Initiative, currently ongoing in Nairobi, capital of neighboring Kenya, where non-signatories to the 2018 peace deal are engaged in finding a consensus-based way forward for South Sudan to complete its long overdue democratic transition while incorporating viewpoints across the political spectrum.

“The shifts in the country’s political landscape in past weeks have been rapid, and in an information environment where people may find it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, connecting state-level actors to national developments, plus raising awareness on individual obligations before citizens head to the polls, is vital,” reveals Guy Bennett, Chief of the UN Peacekeeping Mission’s Political Affairs Division.

“This political parties forum is the first of its kind supported by UNMISS at the state level. So far, we’ve only been rolling these out in different formats in Juba. What’s coming through quite clearly is that South Sudanese everywhere want to be actively involved in shaping a better future. This requires trust between citizens and their leaders; it requires that facts aren’t diluted by differing perspectives; and that everybody is cogniscent of what’s required to hold timely elections. We will, therefore, be replicating this event across all states,” he says.

Mr Bennett’s views are echoed simply, yet eloquently by Anjelina Adhel Malual, Chair of Lakes States’ Civil Society Organizations’ Network.

“We can’t sustain peace or development as individuals. It’s a collective undertaking. And the path towards that is through open, honest communication on what South Sudanese communities want. We are, therefore, overjoyed with the clarity this forum has provided us as well as the options we have jointly come up with to work keeping in mind the interests of all communities,” she avers.

Nyandiar Mabor, a women’s representative, echoes Angelina.

“It’s a fact that when women from all walks of life are fully and equally included in peace processes, they stand the test of time,” she states. “We can define a gender-sensitive political space when we participate in politics, governance, and decision-making. This is non-negotiable if our country is to become truly democratic,” she adds, while noting that the initiative had given participants several actionable ways to strengthen women’s voices.

In a joint communique issued at the end of their deliberations, delegates concluded that they will pursue all avenues to foster trust, build confidence, and work towards establishing versatile, dynamic civic and political discourses across Lakes.

For his part, Christopher Murenga, Head of the UNMISS Field Office in the state, was appreciative of the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by all participants, and called for nominees who could form a committee to disseminate these recommendations far and wide.

“Having open, inclusive civic space is a priority for any country. South Sudan is no exception. I am heartened by the conversations we have heard in the past three days. I am certain these will form a strong foundation for all communities across Lakes to participate in nation building,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

As Kenya strives for gender equality, women’s participation in political leadership remains a critical focal point. Women face unique challenges in the political arena, necessitating tailored approaches to enhance their opportunities and ensure protection from discrimination.

This calls for efforts to support women in decision-making roles, enabling them to effectively advocate for legislation and policies that advance the interests of women and girls. In alignment with these efforts, UN Women advocates for legislative and constitutional reforms to ensure women’s equitable access to political spheres as voters, candidates, elected officials and civil service members.

Hon. Greg Fergus, the Canadian Speaker of the House of Commons, led a delegation from Canada to Kenya in April 2024, and paid a courtesy call to members of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) to discuss progress, challenges, and solutions in women’s political leadership in Kenya. Speaking during his address at the courtesy call, Hon. Fergus said “We laud KEWOPA for fulfilling its unwavering distinctive mandate of promoting and protecting democracy while advocating for women’s rights for more than two decades. More women are stepping forward to contest for political positions, breaking traditional barriers and stereotypes,”.

KEWOPA Chairperson, Hon. Leah Sankire while sharing insights on women’s political leadership in Kenya said “We acknowledge the support that KEWOPA has received from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) that has contributed to the advancement of women’s representation.”

“UN Women is proud to work closely with KEWOPA to enhance women’s participation in political leadership and decision-making. Through targeted interventions, significant progress has been achieved in advancing gender equality within Kenya’s legislative sphere,” said Anna Mutavati.

UN women is collaborating with KEWOPA on various areas. KEWOPA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, conducted an induction for newly elected Members of Parliament following the 2022 elections, emphasizing the retention of experienced legislators.

Additionally, technical assistance was provided by UN Women for the development and launch of KEWOPA’s 2023-27 Strategic Plan, aimed at guiding legislative direction in the 13th Parliament and enhancing its representative and oversight roles.

Moreover, the collaboration has facilitated advocacy efforts for the implementation of the two-thirds gender principle in the National Assembly, including awareness forums and engagement with the multi-sectoral working group.

Together, we have also strengthened the capacity of Members of Parliament through training, mentorship, and constituency outreach initiatives, creating an enabling environment where women can fully exercise their political rights.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

By Laila Bastati, Chief Commercial Officer, APO Group (https://APO-opa.com/).

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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group Insights.