Civil society group urges authorities to promote peace in Eastern Equatoria

TORIT – The Eastern Equatoria Civil Society Network has called on state intellectuals and government officials to embrace and promote peace and unity to restore hope and trust within its citizens.

Speaking during the commemoration to mark International Day of Peace in Torit Freedom Square on Wednesday, civil society network representative Charles Okullo Cyprian called on state authorities to begin forgiving themselves for any past wrongdoing and start doing the right thing.

Okullo applauded peace partners organizations for their long-standing support for the citizens of Eastern Equatoria State in ushering and promoting peace and coexistence.

“I would like to begin by saying that all of us have done very well, including myself. Today is the day that we need to begin forgiving ourselves for whatever we have done and begin doing the right things, but we shouldn’t take this as an advantage. As for all the partners, I would like to thank the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, especially the head of office in Torit,” he said.

“The work you have done in Eastern Equatoria in regard to peace is remarkable. God continue to bless you and continue working with us in this country. I’m not saying this because I want to say it, but because it’s evident in the grassroots. Without you, I don’t even want to explain where our vulnerable community could be now,” Okullo added.

Okullo cautioned the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to inform the citizens of how differently they will implement the extended period. He added that most people need to understand more about the modalities that will be used, whether it will be the same dragging tactics of previous years that the government sought to implement.

“We have a number of issues that we need to begin thinking about. And I’m speaking very well because we have the representative of our good government here. There are good things we need to be very frank with each other about. From now onward, there are issues we need to speak about. And as we cross this International Peace Day, we need to do things differently if we need true and durable peace in this country, especially in the state,” he added.

“If you consult the people, they are not happy about the extension of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. I’m just being honest to all of us. When you extend the Revitalized Peace Agreement, you tell us how differently you are going to implement it so that we don’t think that you are going to implement it the same way you did in the past. So, these are the things that we need to focus on,” he lamented.

Norwegian Church Aid Area field coordinator in Eastern Equatoria State, Tipa Jackson Lokabangcia, said that with wars and geopolitical tensions evident around the globe, Peace Day holds particular significance. He stressed that it provides a global shared date for humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace.

“We can nurture a culture of positive peace and harmony in our society by building robust communal relationships. Strong community connections are essential for creating a sense of belonging and promoting greater social harmony,” explained Tipa.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan Eastern Equatoria State head of field office, Guy Griffin, encouraged the citizens to acknowledge the diversity within their society that aims to promote peace and unity.

Griffin encouraged the state community to reconsider the theme of this year’s Peace Day to demonstrate the collective responsibility needed.

The acting Governor and advisor to the state Governor on economic affairs, German Charles Ojok, said the government appreciates the commitment of the citizens of this great state and the peace partners for their unwavering efforts to see peace prevail in the state.

He reiterated that the government needs people to live in peace and unity by respecting each other, reconciling, and forgiving each other by forgetting the past.

“Peace means a lot in our lives as human beings and other creatures. It’s not only the absence of war but peace in our minds, peace in our hearts, peace within families, peace with our neighbors. That is the kind of peace that we want,” added German.

The state ministry of peace building in partnership with peace partners celebrated International Peace Day in Torit on Wednesday under the theme “Nurturing a culture of positive peace is our collective responsibility.”

The occasion was attended by state cabinet ministers, state transitional members of parliament, as well as civil society representatives and peace partners, including UNMISS Torit branch members, plus hundreds of the state community.