South Sudanese women call for peace, security, stability in Tombura

JUBA — The South Sudanese women are calling on the Western Equatoria State government to end the bloodshed in Tombura County and restore peace, security, and stability in the state.

The women made this call during their meeting with Governor of Western Equatoria State, Lt. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba on Tuesday in Yambio.

Mrs. Yabang Emilia Moses who doubled as head of women group and Executive Director of Anika Women Association urged governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba to take steps to promote peace, and security.

“Women are traumatized due to the killing of their fellow women, husbands, and children across the state and this bloodshed has to end,” Moses during Tuesday’s meeting in Yambio.

Moses said the call for an end to conflicts, insecurity, displacement of civilians, and insensitive creation of more orphans and widows will not only end in Western Equatoria State.

“It is not only in Western Equatoria where killings are reported, killings all over the country, and as women, we feel the same pain when we heard someone has been killed in Bor, Malakal, Juba, and anywhere in South Sudan,” she said.

She said the women are disappointed in their children, whom they gave birth to, claiming that they are the ones killing and raping women.

Governor of Western Equatoria State, Lt. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba promised to restore peace in the state.

“I will provide you with transport means so that you can move to all the ten counties of Western Equatoria State to disseminate the message of peace to the community,” Futuyo told the women.

Futuyo said women are peacemakers and encourage them to take a leading role in supporting the government’s efforts to restore peace and stability in the state.

“I assure you that I will support any efforts or program which aims at restoring lasting peace in Western Equatoria State,” he said.

The deadly fighting in Tombura which erupted in July has displaced nearly 80,000 civilians and left more than 200 people dead.

The conflict has been attributed to clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition and forces loyal to Gen. James Nando.