Hundreds of residents of Western Equatoria held a peaceful demonstration in the state capital Yambio demanding for peace. They marched on the streets urging leaders to end the conflict that is currently ravaging parts of the country.
Hundreds of residents of Western Equatoria held a peaceful demonstration in the state capital Yambio demanding for peace. They marched on the streets urging leaders to end the conflict that is currently ravaging parts of the country.
“What we are saying is no to war, we need peace. We Women in South Sudan, we have suffered enough, our children, husbands and brothers have been dying. We don’t want to go back again to war and more suffering,” said one demonstrator who spoke on behalf of women.
“…Most things are now in poor shape. The road to Western Equatoria State is impassable and there are no vehicles from here going to Juba. The money which is supposed to be used to construct roads is all going for war. Because of this, we are saying no to war. We need peace.We came here to say that we don’t want war,” she continued.
Addressing the crowd at Yambio Freedom Square, the state governor Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro reiterated the call for peace and stability in the country.
“We don’t want war. We need peace for everybody. Women stand strong, your children are dying and women died in big numbers. Children died in this war. Our stand here is that we don’t want war again, it must stop,” he said.
He said that the people of Western Equatoria state prefer federalism as the best system of governance. He added that they are supporting the Protocol recently proposed by IGAD, which also has a proposal on federalism.
“You like it or you don’t like, it’s already inside because it is the right of people and it is what people want,” he said of the document.
Last week, Bishop Bernard Oringa, the Episcopal Church of South Sudan Bishop of Torit spoke at St. Emmanuel Parish in Juba, calling for a heart of peace, forgiveness and tolerance among leaders and communities of South Sudan.
The bishop said the country needs peace which can only come when the Christians in the country pray for peace with one heart. Leadership always ends but the people will remain, said the bishop.
The people of South Sudan have been suffering for many years since independence of Sudan to date. The demand and call for peace is the cry of many people in the region and in South Sudan. The peace talks in Addis Ababa have been postponed and will resume later in the month.
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