The National Transformational Leadership Institute with funding from UNDP-PaCC project conducted a 3-days training on Transformational leadership, conflict resolution, and peace building for local government officials from Northern Bahr-El Ghazal (NBG) state between 24th to 26th August 2022. The training brought together 5 counties namely Aweil North, Aweil South, Aweil East, Aweil West and Aweil Center. The mobilization considered all the five counties of NBG state, representatives of CRRC, Women Association, Ministry of Peace Building, Minstry of Gender Child and Social Welfare, Local government officials (Executive Directors and Director Generals), Aweil Municipality and RRC.
The topics covered included transformational leadership, conflict management, peacebuilding and social cohesion. The most recurring request was to organize the same training to the five counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazel State.
Matters arising included rampant cattle theft which can culminate into conflict. They stated the Misseria herders are reportedly the other cause of friction with the various counties of Northern el Bahr el Ghazal. Mistrust was also identified as an issue caused by divisions according to party lines. In fact, saying “woyeeh” as a cheering greeting to a group is loathed as a marking of belonging to the SPLM party.
It was noted that women are marginalized in leadership whereby in mobilization, it is mostly done by men and they tend to select women who cannot read or write as seen which affects their participation in the training. The participants expressed a great need for leadership training for administrative staff which should run from one week to a month or more. Cases of GBV were also reported and they requested for a training to address it.