Yei River County in Central Equatoria State joined the world in commemorating the International Day of Peace at Yei Freedom Square on Monday. The event, held under the theme "Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day," brought together county government officials, religious leaders, local chiefs, elders, youth, people with disabilities, development and humanitarian partners, media organizations, and other community stakeholders. The commemoration highlighted the importance of sustained investment in peacebuilding and community participation.
The International Day of Peace is observed every September 21, as established by the UN General Assembly in 1981. The day was first observed in 1982, and September 21 was set as its permanent date in 2001. Alex Lodiong Sakor, the Catholic Bishop of Yei and Chairman of the Inter-Religious Committee in Yei River County, urged communities to embrace dialogue and peaceful means of resolving differences. He emphasized that lasting peace cannot be achieved through the use of arms.
Bishop Sakor stressed the importance of dialogue and improved services to citizens, stating that peace can be achieved by providing services to the people. He encouraged government officials and religious leaders to try their best in providing services to their people. According to him, investing in peace means bringing services to the people. The event provided a platform for leaders to reflect on the importance of peace and unity in the community.
James Wani Banja, Director of Peacebuilding in Yei River County, noted that communities have experienced pockets of peace due to collective efforts by local leaders, religious institutions, peace committees, and other stakeholders. He mentioned that the people in the outside payams of Yei County have experienced relative peace compared to the past years of 2017 and 2018. However, he expressed concern about the issue of checkpoints, which are not respecting the resolutions made in the civil-military dialogue.
Mustafa Adams, representing peacebuilding partners, commended peace committees and religious leaders for their continued work in promoting peace across Yei and beyond. He emphasized that the community must create peace, which should be translated into everyday relationships between people. Adams pledged to continue working with the government, especially on peace lobbying, and encouraged the community to play a role in translating peace messages into reality.
Yei River County Chairlady Alice Siama called for greater attention to domestic disputes, saying violence within families also poses a threat to peace in communities. She mentioned that women have always played a big role in peacebuilding in families and the country. Siama expressed concern about the number of women killed in the county, stating that women should not be subjected to hard situations or killed.
Yei River County Executive Director Hillary Lokudu also called for love, unity, and peaceful participation in civic affairs. He urged residents to remain calm and participate peacefully in the electoral process. Lokudu emphasized that election is the only democratic way to exercise rights and encouraged residents to use their votes to hold leaders accountable for providing services.
Key points
- Yei leaders urge dialogue and peaceful coexistence on International Peace Day
- The event highlights the importance of sustained investment in peacebuilding and community participation
- Leaders emphasize the need for improved services to citizens to achieve lasting peace
