W. Equatoria state officials organise peace match

April 18, 2016 (YAMBIO) – A match for peace between ladies and officials in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state attracted hundreds of citizens in Yambio on Sunday.

The commissioner of Yambio county, Hussein Enocka said the match was to enforce the peace deal signed between government and the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar in August last year.

“We organised this program to boost, promote, support and protect our peace agreement that was signed because for almost a year it was not easy to gather like this seeing fathers, mothers and youth playing together,” the commissioner told reporters in Yambio.

Also present on the government side was South Sudan’s former minister for foreign affairs, Grace Datiro, among other key politicians.

The ladies coach, Monica Ibrahim advised young girls to engage in activities which will enable them unite people and create peace.

Women are peace makers, the government and its partners should support girls to enable them organise sports and some influential activities that build peace among South Sudanese citizens, she said.

The deputy governor of Gbudue state, Edward Kpiawandu urged the youth to uphold the peace and promote it, having witnessed the importance of a peaceful and stable environment, unlike in the past.

“And signing the peace [deal] is not enough, but it needs the youth (both women and men) to work for peace,” said Kpiawandu.

Meanwhile the Bishop of the Catholic Church, Barani Hiboro Edward said religious institution would continue promoting peace and reconciliation in the young nation.

South Sudanese government forces have carried out numerous killings, enforced disappearances, rapes, and other grave abuses in the Western Equatoria region during expanded fighting in the region, Human Rights Watch said last month.

Rebel armed groups there also committed serious abuses, including rape, it reported.

(ST)