South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
INTREPID South Sudan, a civil society organization based in Jonglei, has urged the visiting high-level delegation of the African Union Panel of the Wise to remain in Juba until President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President, Riek Machar Teny, resolve their differences.
Bol Deng Bol, Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan, on Wednesday stated that the visiting AU delegation should depart once they have successfully defused the tensions between the parties.
“The wise thing that the Panel of the Wise can do now is to never leave Juba until the leaders accept to place their grievances on a round table, and South Sudanese will remember your visit in our journey to a just, prosperous, and democratic South Sudan,” Deng said in a statement.
Deng emphasized the importance of involving members of civil society, faith-based organizations, women, and academic institutions in the talks among the parties.
“We are urging the Panel of the Wise to engage not only the President of the Republic but also his first Vice President and all the Vice Presidents, among other stakeholders, including the civil society, the faith-based groups, women, and academia,” he said.
He stated that the mere assessment of the situation is not benefiting the country, as demonstrated by the recent visit of Kenya’s special envoy, Raila Odinga.
“Today’s visit of the African Union’s panel of the wise has come at a time when the hope for peaceful settlement of the current tension is dwindling among South Sudanese,” he said.
Deng said the visit of the AU Panel of the Wise will help prevent a return to war, noting that the South Sudanese are wary of violence.
“Our message therefore, to the panel of the wise, is that South Sudanese are tired of war, including our leaders. We want R-ARCSS revived and an immediate resumption of the Tumaini Peace Initiative.”
The African Union’s Panel of the Wise, led by former Kenyan judge Effie Owuor, arrived in Juba on Wednesday afternoon.
The Panel was sent by AU Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf Ali on a four-day mission to help de-escalate political tensions in the country.
