International Day of Peace Celebrated in Rumbek
Drumming echoed across Rumbek Freedom Square as state officials, community elders and UN partners observed the International Day of Peace under the motto “Act Now for Peace in South Sudan.” The gathering reflected renewed confidence in Lakes State’s security gains.
Christopher Muchiru, heading the UNMISS field office, praised Governor Rin Tueny Mabor for turning the once-volatile province into what he called “a haven of peace,” adding that humanitarian agencies can now reach remote settlements with fewer escorts.
Youth Framed as Agents of Stability
Addressing hundreds of students draped in white and blue, Muchiru warned that “malicious actors” still attempt to pit clans against each other. He urged young people to become ambassadors of reconciliation rather than foot soldiers of revenge.
Youth union chair Laat Majak echoed the call, saying their generation must be “torch bearers of change.” His comment drew applause from peers who pledged to mediate cattle-raiding disputes along the Pakam and Cueibet corridors.
Political Context and Election Path
State minister of culture, youth and sports William Koji Kerjok reassured diplomats that the ongoing trial of First Vice President Riek Machar “will not derail the peace process.” He underlined that SPLM-IO, as a party, remains committed to the 2026 polls.
Kerjok also urged young men in Lith and Manuer to abandon revenge killings, stating that the government, in concert with UNMISS, has deployed mediators to hotspots such as Tiaptiap Payam.
Grass-roots Voices Shape the Road Ahead
Paramount chief Sebit Kuac Manyiel appealed for deeper collaboration between elders and peacekeepers to quell unrest in Pakam, insisting that customary courts must complement formal justice mechanisms.
Observers note that Lakes State’s relative calm could offer a template as South Sudan prepares for its first national ballot since independence. Whether the youthful momentum witnessed in Rumbek will translate into lasting harmony, however, rests on continuous dialogue and inclusive development.