East Equatoria Community Peace Talks South Sudan

Background

Given the fragile nature of South Sudan in which inter-ethnic conflict continues to take place, South Sudan Grassroots Initiative for Peace (SSGID), a national Charity organisation, initiated activities aimed at ending the conflicts. SSGID is a youth led organisation that was formed in 2013, and has since reached to all the 10 States of South Sudan. The heat of the ethnic conflict is in three main areas namely: Eastern Equatoria, Warrap and Unity States.  The program was designed to curb conflict in Eastern Equatoria State.

SSGID Success

Over the last six months, the following have been our recorded successes.

1. Twelve (12) community meetings were held to bring together 750 people (315 were women and 195 youth) to discuss grievances and build understanding. The main issues raised by the communities are (a) threats of land grabbing, and (b) poor or no service delivery in the form of roads, education, and health services.
2. One cultural festival was held in Nimule Town the border with Uganda on the 12^th of July 2024. It was a hilarious event full of fun, community expression, and multi-cultural displays of happiness and co-existence. We estimated over 1,500 people in attendance representing the Luo, Madi, Topotha, Lotukho, Lango, and Didinga communities.
3. The delayed return of rains ruined the planned diversified crop production yet still SSGID supported 3 women groups (65 women) to plant simsim (sesame). The harvest is ongoing as we write this project report.
4. Four (4) women and 4 men visited Madi communities in Moyo and Adjumani districts in Uganda to learn crop value addition techniques in May 2024. These seven learning-visit beneficiaries are now teaching their colleagues improved farming methods aimed at increasing agricultural yields. The target is to introduce value addition in South Sudan as well.
5. Due to the capital-intensive nature of FM radio, the Executive Director of SSGID initiated talks with FM Radios in South Sudan whose airwave cover is received in Eastern Equatoria.

Way Forward – expected achievement by 30^th December 2024

The momentum for peace has been set. SSGID plans to achieve the following success by 30^th December 2024:

1. One hundred (100) women will have produced at least 400 kilograms of sesame and 500 kilograms of sweet potatoes and cassava by 30^th December 2024.
2. Twenty (20) people of different ethnic groups will have visited and learned crop management and value addition from Uganda on 30^th December 2024.
3. Three (3) peace radio talk shows will be facilitated by SSGID in Sudan by 30^th December 2024.
4. Sixteen (16) articles focused on sustainable peace and co-existence will be published in the Daily Monitor newspaper focusing on South Sudan on 30^th December 2024.