Dialogues on strengthening communal peace and promote social cohesion in POC, Gugu and Khor-Malang resettlement areas of Western Bahr el Ghazal State – Wau

Introduction

A three-days dialogue on strengthening communal peace and promote social cohesion was organized by United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) in collaboration with Agriculture Youth Action for Development Agency (AYADA), peace building partners and the State Ministry of Peace building with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The dialogues brought together 208 community leaders, women, youth and PWDs representing diverse ethnic communities in POC, Gugu and Khor-Malang resettlement areas of Western Bahr El Ghazal State.                                                                                                                                                                  

The Dialogues was successfully conducted on Saturday, August 23, 2025 – Monday, August 25, 2025 in POC, Khor-Malang and Gugu resettlement areas in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State. The dialogues saw performances by all the community representatives that participated with joy and unity in three locations.

The days featured traditional dances, and music that showcased the rich cultural heritage and their happiness to UNDP, AYADA, Peace partners and government officials. The State Ministry of Peace Building, including the media house were presented.

Speeches delivered throughout the program emphasized the role of Peace Partners and the State Ministry of Peace Building in fostering peace, social cohesion, dialogue, and reconciliation. Proposals to institutionalize community dialogues and establishment of community peace centers in three locations were made.

The dialogues provided a platform for diverse community to connect and cherished their traditions for peace, and appreciated different perspectives, which ultimately contributed to a more peaceful and inclusive society in the State with a long history of violent conflicts that divided the masses along ethnic lines. 

Objectives :

• To create a platform for the venerable groups to tell their stories and challenges that facing them in Khor-Malang, Gugu and POC in Wau.
•  To build a peaceful community of Khor-Malang, Gugu and POC in Wau.
•  Strengthening communal peace and promote social in two areas of Khor-Malang, Gugu and POC in Wau.

1.3 The purpose: The purpose for these activities is to build a community social cohesion in Khor-Malang IDPs resettlement and POC in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State

1.4 Achievements

After successful conclusion of the dialogues, UNDP, AYADA, Ministry of Peace building, Peace partners and community able to plant trees and name them peace tree and continue inspires peace in the areas.

1.5 The Guiding principles 

 According to the nature of UNDP-supported activities, the dialogues require and encourage inclusivity of all stakeholders to participate strengthening communal peace and promote social cohesion in Khor-Malang and POC.

The methodology used

The method used was face to face dialogues with the community, stakeholders, partners and government official to concluded the successful dialogues.

Below is the table indicating dates, of the activities achieved:

Date	Location	Number of  activities	Total of activities
23 /8/2025	Concluded a successful dialogues and tree plantations in Khor-Malang A.	1	1
24 /8/2025	Concluded a successful dialogues in POC youth center.	1	1
25/8/2025	Concluded a successful dialogues and tree plantations in Hai Gugu.	1	1
			3

1.7 Challenges/Problems :

The following are the challeng facing different commuinties in the areas of dialogues.

1. Khor-Malang A resettlement areas
2. No access to quality and drinking water
3. Have donation land for youth center, community center and police station but no capital to construct them.
4. No school for children to learn
5. No health services due to lack of PHCC
6. Insecurity due to present of cattle keepers
7. Lack of agricultural tools and training on how to use the model tools.
8. No construction of shelters in Khor-Malang

•  Protection of Civilians (POC)

• Insecurity due to present of cattle keepers
• Having two chiefs with different committees in POC and Khor-Malang always create a community conflicts.
• Too much of head speech from the people of Khor-Malang seeing as us and said you coming to us always with criminals and that usual create community conflicts in the areas.
• No equal services deliveries in POC and Khor-Malang IDPs resettlement areas.
• Discrimination and tribalism from the people of Khor-Malang. 
• No resources for land registration for the venerable groups in POC
• No access to quality drinking and construction water in Khor-Malang
• Building of houses stop for two days in the resettlement areas in Khor-Malang due to sultan dour report of this people to be considering by built 25 houses to them, office and sultan house
• No school for children to learn
• No health services due to lack of PHCC
• Have donation land for youth center, community center and police station but no capital to construct them.

• Gugu area

• Insecurity due to present of cattle keepers
• No office in Gugu
•  No school for children to learn
• No health services due to lack of PHCC
• No access to quality and drinking water
• Lack of police personnel
• Lack capacity building of our youth from different field.
• Lack of psychosocial support.

1.8   Recommendation

The following are recommendations for Khor-Malang:

1. Khor-Malang
2. There is need for provision of quality drinking water.
3. There is need for UNDP and partners to considering Khor-Malang with construction of for youth center, community center and police station.
4. There is a need to establish education in emergence learning centers for children and provision of health services in Khor-Malang.
5. Government and peace partners to inform the cattle keepers to move away from resettlement areas in Khor-Malang and avoid insecurity
6. Provision of agricultural tools, training and construction of community shelters in Khor-Malang resettlement areas.

The following are recommendations for Protection of Civilians (POC):

• Protection of Civilians (POC)
• Government and peace partners to inform the cattle keepers to move away from resettlement areas in Khor-Malang and avoid insecurity
• There is a need for dialogue between different chiefs and their committees and bult peaceful community in POC.
• There is a need to support VSLA groups that will help vulnerable community for land registration fees in Khor-Malang resettlement areas in Wau.
• The State government and peace building partners to continue advocating for limiting of discrimination and tribalism among young people in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.

The following are recommendations for Hai Gugu:

• Protection of Civilians (POC)

• UNDP, Peace Building partners and the State government priorities the construction of women and youth canter in Gugu area.
• Supporting youth empowerment activities in different life skills
• Establishment of Sub- peace   committee   in each area
• The State government to considering putting sign post that indicate the area to people and easy direction for community
• Communicate   with the RRC and ensure that all IDPs receive their lands
• There is a need to establish education in emergence learning centers for children and provision of health services include training women in midwifery.

1.9 LESSONS LEARNED /Success Stories:

The lessons learned during the engagement and mobilization of the community that it’s very important to engage all parts of the community in the dialogue   so we can analyze and justify their problems  

Plans for next month:

UNDP, AYADA, Peace Building Partners and the State Ministry of Peace Building planning and preparing for a day to join all the people from the four areas to showcase their cultural dance and music including football game for peace building activates before the International Day of Peace in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan.