July 11th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – An Aid organization said non Tuesday that any peace deal that is deemed to end the ongoing civil war between the government of Salva Kiir and the opposition groups in the country should includes approaches that address the concerns of the South Sudanese citizens at the grassroots.
“What we’re suggesting is needed is a more sophisticated recognition of the conditions for peace. These include the critical roles played by leaders and peace activists at regional and local levels. The local really matters. So do the many cultural and religious practices that can help defuse potential explosions and heal relationships after decades of trauma and deep grievance,” said Natalia Chan, the Christian Aid’s Senior Adviser on South Sudan on Tuesday.
Chan said in the statement seen by the Nyamilepedia that despite efforts by many diplomats, regional and international organizations to bring peace to South Sudan, historical studies show that similar high-level peace processes have failed for this reason
“It’s understandable that diplomats, donor governments, and the international community focus their efforts and hopes on securing a deal between powerful men around the negotiating table. But history shows that focusing on high-level processes has failed to bring peace for people in South Sudan,” said Chan.
She pointed out that South Sudan is still in violence after more-than four years in civil war which has seen hundreds of thousand of people killed and millions displaced.
“After four-and-a-half years of civil war that have touched the extreme bounds of violence, the situation in South Sudan remains gravely concerning. There are multiple conflicts over resources, power and identity. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives, half the population are at risk of food insecurity, and a third have been forced to flee their homes. It’s easy to despair or be desperate for a quick-fix to the horror,” she said.
