South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Commission for Refugee Affairs has urged peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities, delivering the message during vibrant sports events organised in collaboration with IGAD and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Under the theme “Peaceful Sports for Peaceful Coexistence,” the initiative used football and other team games to break down barriers, foster unity, and build lasting harmony.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, the Deputy Director for Protection and Refugee Welfare at the Commission for Refugee Affairs, Yawusa Dawod Kintha, said the event sends a powerful message that peaceful coexistence is possible even in a nation deeply affected by conflict and displacement.
“This gathering shows that peace can begin with simple acts like playing sports together,” Kintha said. “We are bringing together youth from different backgrounds—refugees, returnees, IDPs, and locals—to heal, to unite, and to build trust.”
South Sudan currently hosts around 600,000 refugees, with the majority settled in Upper Nile State, the Ruweng Administrative Area, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and major urban centres including Juba and Yambio. Many have fled conflict zones in neighbouring countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
Kintha stressed that the goal is not just recreation, but reconciliation.
“We use sports not only for fun, but for trauma recovery, counselling, and social cohesion,” he said. “It gives our young people hope. It reminds them that being a refugee is not a crime; it’s a condition born of war, and it’s something many South Sudanese have experienced themselves.”
He also called on communities across South Sudan to embrace refugees and returnees with compassion and solidarity.
“Peace starts with acceptance; we must open our hearts and communities to those seeking safety.”
Meanwhile, the IGAD Head of Mission to South Sudan, David Kwaje, echoed the call for unity and praised the use of sports as a tool for peacebuilding.
“We believe peaceful coexistence isn’t just a policy; it is a practice,” Kwaje said. “Events like these help communities break barriers, celebrate shared humanity, and discover talents that might one day represent their people on global platforms like the Refugee Olympic Team.”
Kwaje also commended the media for highlighting peace initiatives and reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to supporting conflict resolution and community cohesion.
“Sport creates common ground, whether you’re a refugee, a returnee, or a host community member. It shows us we’re all human, and we can stand together,” he said.
The programme will soon expand to other refugee-hosting areas, starting with Maban County in Upper Nile State, with the aim of spreading the message of peace and inclusion throughout the country.
However, the representative of the refugees, Basher Eshag, praised the government and the partners for organising such an event, stating that it will help refugees relieve the trauma they are experiencing, especially for those who have recurrently come from Sudan.
