South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The South Sudan Civil Society Forum together with religious leaders on Thursday urged President Salva Kiir and his First Vice President Riek Machar, to dialogue to resolve their differences.
Galdino Ochama Ojok, the Chairperson for the South Sudan Civil Society Forum called on all parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement to meet to de-escalate the ongoing tensions amid the deteriorating security situation particularly in Upper Nile State and other parts of the country.
“We are saying something must be done, the 2018 peace agreement is under threat, there is escalation of tension and the focus should be on dialogue to ensure the country moves in the direction of peace,” said Ojok during a consultative meeting on the security situation in Juba.
Ojok said the country is in a political crisis which is tearing the social fabric, adding that this has also led to rise in hate speech which could cause fights among communities.
“Misunderstanding happens but the solution is dialogue, we do not want war, the only solution is dialogue, people have to talk and find solution. We do not want blood to be spilled in this country,” he said.
Enock Tombe, the retired Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan emphasized the need for internal solutions to the current impasse, rather than external solutions.
“We feel that there should be a forum to engage with stakeholders to bring peace,” said Tombe.
Prof. Julia Aker Duany, Chairperson of Civil Service Commission asked the belligerent to dialogue in order to avert the immense suffering of the civil population across the country.
“The lives of South Sudanese have been lives of war, lives of suffering and lack of hopes. We want peace which was signed in 2018 to continue, the agreement will build cohesion of our society and build our nation,” said Duany.
