By Waure Eddy
Fifty Participants from diverse backgrounds gathered in Yambio for a one-day community forum focused on strengthening resilience against hate speech and conflict-driven narratives.
The event, organized by Digital Rights Frontline (DRF) based in Juba, follows a similar training held in September on combating harmful information across South Sudan.
Hate speech, misinformation, and conflict-driven narratives continue to undermine peaceful coexistence and community cohesion in South Sudan.
In Western Equatoria State, particularly Yambio, intercommunal tensions, political mistrust, and social grievances are often amplified by unverified online content, rumors, and targeted messages that fuel fear, hostility, and violence.
The forum aimed to: Build community-level awareness and capacity develop collective strategies to mitigate hate speech both online and offline Provide a platform for dialogue, learning, and coordination among grassroots actors.
Speaking during the opening session via phone, Mr. Isaac Fura, Director General from the Ministry of Information and Communication in Western Equatoria State, encouraged participants to actively engage and share the knowledge gained with their communities.
He thanked DRF for addressing such critical issues in Yambio and urged the organization to extend future trainings to five to seven days for deeper learning and understanding.
“These programs should not stop; they should be continuous. The state government is committed to supporting initiatives coming from Juba. The first training by DRF was enjoyable, and the team on the ground is doing good work by bringing communities together,” Mr. Fura said.
The forum brought together government officials, traditional and church leaders, youth, women, civil society organizations, and journalists. Participants expressed their appreciation for both the September training and the current forum:
Helen City a journalist working for Yambio FM: “The September training opened my eyes to how misinformation spreads so quickly. Today’s forum has given me practical tools to counter hate speech in my community.”
Hadia Badu from women group representative: “As a church leader, I see how rumors divide people. These trainings help us preach peace and unity with confidence.”
Gordon Basa from CSO representative: “I am happy DRF continues to empower us. The knowledge we gain is not just for us but for the entire community.”
Christopher Rondon a youth: “The forum is timely. As a journalist, I now understand better how to report responsibly and avoid amplifying harmful narratives.”
Ann Paul: “I appreciate that DRF brings together different groups. It shows that fighting hate speech is everyone’s responsibility.”
Badri Ueko traditional leader: “Our community has suffered from rumors and mistrust. These trainings give us hope that we can rebuild trust and live peacefully.”
Participants agreed that continuous engagement is essential to sustain resilience against harmful narratives.
With strong support from the state government and grassroots actors, initiatives like DRF’s community forums are paving the way for peaceful coexistence and stronger community cohesion in Yambio and beyond.
