The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) Warrap State branch on Thursday elected its office bearers including the coordinator, secretary-general, and treasurer in Kuajok town. 

The national body organized a three-day workshop since Tuesday supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to train at least 25 journalists to effectively disseminate peace messages and promote gender quality in local languages. 

The journalists from Dor FM, Don Bosco in Tonj South County, Mayardit FM, and Kuajok government-owned radio elected Daniel Mareng Wek as UJOSS coordinator, Deng John as secretary general, and Athok Angui the treasurer of the UJOSS office in Warrapo State. 

Paul Jima, the lead facilitator, urges journalists to practice their work efficiently and cooperate with the newly elected leaders.

"For the new team, you are the sources of journalists' strength, so make journalists stronger to do their work and cooperate among yourselves," he said.

The new UJOSS coordinator in Warrap State, Daniel Mareng Wek, swore to unite journalists.

"I appreciate the facilitators, the UJOSS national team, and UNESCO for the workshop and elections," he said. "I appreciate the outgoing coordinator Santino Manut for a job well done and now will be the time to start our work. I am appealing to our partners to answer our call for help any time from now." 

Santino Manut, the outgoing leader, who is also the director of government radio in Warrap, donated SSP 20,000 to the new office and said he would support them.

"Do the best in your new office," he said. "I will still help both government and private journalists if the need arises." 

Majak Daniel Kuany, UJOSS national secretary-general urged the state government to cooperate with the UJOSS branch office to achieve more in the state.

"I urge you the state government to give the new team the support you have accorded to us here for they need your help more than before and I appreciated our main partner UNESCO for its support as we have completed restructuring ten states today. To the new team, our core values remain as impartiality, independence, accuracy, and accountability so our work must be based on those values," Majak said.

Meanwhile, Bona Beek, acting Director General in the state ministry of information and communication appreciated the UJOSS team and UNESCO for training the journalists and called for continuous support.