21 September 2015 - International Day of Peace was celebrated today across South Sudanese states with speeches, discussions, craftwork, traditional singing and dancing.
At the UNMISS protection of civilians (PoC) site in Bentiu, Unity State, internally displaced persons (IDP) representative James Tut stressed that IDPs supported the country’s recently signed peace agreement.
“We are calling for full implementation of the agreement,” Mr. Tut said. “We are for peace, not for war.”
He called on the state government to open up communications in the town. “We want the state government to open a telephone network … so we can communicate with the outside world.”
Bentiu’s mobile network, run by three service providers, has been disrupted since April 2014, when heavy fighting erupted in the town.
State Coordinator Cummins called on Unity people to work together in building a peaceful, united state as well as country.
“South Sudan must be united, this state must be united, and all of us here in the POC must be united to support the peace agreement,” she said. “We are all one family and we must treat each other like family.”
She said UNMISS would work with all communities to promote peace and reconciliation among different groups in the state.
“UNMISS will work to organize peace and reconciliation meetings for all communities and I urge everyone to support the peace dialogue and associated processes,” the State Coordinator said.
A town hall meeting with IDPs to pass on peace and health messages, traditional music shows and a volleyball match between IDP and UNMISS teams were among activities to mark the Day.
Celebrations in Rumbek, Lakes State, included group discussions in the Catholic and Episcopal Church on how local communities could contribute to peace, after showing the documentary ‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’. The film tells the story of Liberian women and their efforts for the peace process.
A celebration was also held in Aduel, Rumbek East County, where four local communities had initiated their own peace process.
“We congratulate you and thank you, the chiefs and executive director in particular, for the work that you are doing to try to bring peace to these communities,” said OiC State Coordinator Timothy Hudner during the ceremony.
Each community received a scepter and t-shirts as an award for their efforts.
At a peace dialogue forum in Torit, Eastern Equatoria, Mayor Martin Odeki urged state youth to denounce war and forget about guns.
“I was born in 1952 and I spent all my life in war,” Mr. Odeki said. “If you, the youth, want to enjoy the dividend of this newly signed peace … I ask you to denounce and forget about anything that triggers war and the use of guns.”
Eastern Equatoria Peace Commission Chairman Claudio Suleiman said people should engage in peace building at the community level, rather than relying solely on the government.
“To be at peace, it must start with you and I, (your) neighbors and extend to your nearby villages,” Mr. Suleiman said.
Hellene Samuel, a student at Dr. John Garang Memorial Secondary School, urged parents to allow young people the freedom to obtain an education and stop girls from marrying at a school-going age.
“To free another person is to free yourself and reconciliation must begin with you,” she said. We girls want to be free from sexual exploitation to enjoy peace and education.”
William Karlo Akera, a young artist, passed peace messages to people through mud sculptures depicting the negative effect of war on innocent children, women and men.
“As a designer I’m aspired and compelled to model, among others, a malnourished pregnant mother and a child and a stranded man starving in the bush as a result of war,” Mr. Akera said.
In Malakal, Upper Nile, most of the Day’s celebration in the UNMISS PoC was cancelled due to heavy rains. But the rain sparked off singing and dancing among the thousands of elderly, youth and children attending.
Women and youth simply held chairs over their heads and sang for peace. “Peace is the most important thing and the rain does not hurt,” they said.