Peace Message on Christmas Festival by Mothers of South Sudan

December 24, 2014 (SSNA) — We, the mothers under the South Sudan Women General Association wish to share with the people of South Sudan our stances over the crises that have engulfed our country over the past one year. In our last year’s Christmas message, we had called on all parties to cease hostilities and bring peace to the people of South Sudan without delay. As mothers of this country, we have been very devastated by the ongoing conflict as we have always and are still the top losers. It has become abundantly clear that we are the producers of the raw materials of wars since our children and husbands are the ones that die in any conflict!

We are therefore, in the name of God and of our mother land, South Sudan condemning in the strongest terms the endless suffering of our children, women and men after the independence of our country. The conflict our country is being consumed with is senseless and must be stopped immediately. We call upon the President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit and all the parties involved to hear our calls and put down all the arms for the sake of peace in our young country. We also call upon Dr. Riek Machar Teny and all the members of the SPLM/A-IO to listen to our voices and see the suffering of our people.

So far, we thank H.E. the President of the Republic of South Sudan for making progress in the on-going peace-talks with Dr. Riek Machar and SPLM/A-IO in Addis Ababa. We hope that the steps taken so far are a great milestone towards bringing peace to the people of South Sudan. We also appreciate the efforts the UN is doing in protecting the lives of women and children in their camps across the country. We urge all humanitarian agencies to continue responding to the humanitarian needs of our people as the government and SPLM/A –IO try their best to bring long lasting peace to our people. We also call upon the Secretary General of the United Nations, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, President Barrack Obama of  USA, IGAD, AU and all the leaders of the world, to continue supporting the on-going peace process such that the people of South Sudan are save from further and unnecessary suffering.

It must be known that the conflict in South Sudan has taken a bigger toll on women and children, especially the girl-child. It is unfortunate that the conflict took place just at the end of 16 days of global activism against gender based violence, hence,  the victims and vulnerable groups that were being emancipated from such inequalities are now the victims of rap, hunger, diseases, and all abuses of the politically and ethnically motivated war. It is therefore with deep regret that we are seeing our beloved country South Sudan, destroying the few survivors of the struggle and the fruits of independence in such a senseless conflict.

Finally, with motherly tears and broken hearts, we are once again condemning the continued violation of cessation of hostilities and we are calling upon all parties to immediately cease any military confrontations and bring peace to the suffering people of South Sudan during this Christmas festival. The Women of South Sudan need nothing else but peace and stability for Christmas and New Year…!

May we all have a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year 2015.

South Sudan: One People, One Nation…!

Signed,

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