S. Sudanese in Uganda call for harmony among tribes
February 27, 2014 (KAMPALA) – A group of South Sudanese living in the Ugandan capital, Kampala have agitated for unity among the various tribes in the new nation, in spite of the ongoing violence that has killed thousands and displaced nearly a million.
Violence broke out in the South Sudan capital, Juba late last year and later extended to three of the country’s 10 states of Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei killing thousands with nearly a million displaced both within and outside the country.
Nyok Lual Jok, a Masters student in Kampala said staying in harmony would bring peace, but warned labeling the conflict along tribal lines.
“Actually they have to harmonize themselves, leave those entire crisis’s they are in right now, and they have to make sure they came to state of reconciliation,” Jok said.
“They have to reconcile no matter what happens to them and they must to have recognised one another as brother and sisters in Christ,” he added.
He however expressed optimism for peace and stability in a country that experienced decades of civil war with neighbouring Sudan, prior to the 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Pawer Ruac, a South Sudanese trader said the recent conflict has greatly affected business, advocating a change in leadership as a way of resolving the conflict.
“The greediness of our people on leadership has made the country back to war. If you think of yourself as a king without allowing other fellow colleagues to be your successor, it will automatically result to conflict in the country,” he told Sudan Tribune.
He believes an interim administration, as proposed by the mediator, could be the only tool for reconciliation among the various people of South Sudan.
“Many people, including those who have fled to neighboring foreign countries have loss truth on South Sudan leadership. We need the IGAD [Inter-governmental Authority on Development] and international community to form an independent government without warring parties in order for peaceful restoration and for justices to be prevailing,” he added.
Meanwhile Nyawat Reth said she was deeply concerned about the suffering meted upon South Sudanese women and children as a result of the outbreak of conflict.
“From day one of conflict thing have totally change into ethnicity cleansing in South Sudan capital of Juba. And from states it goes around and killing continue on the tribal line target. Government must admitted that it has done wrong decision at the beginning otherwise of killing could occurred if there legitimate leadership”, said Reth.
While negotiators try to devise the long-awaited monitoring and verification mechanisms for the agreed ceasefire between South Sudan’s warring parties, the rebels accused government forces of using “delayed tactics” in the Addis Ababa truce.
(ST)