By Aweye Teddy Onam
Political conflicts and power struggles are the main reasons for the absence of genuine peace in South Sudan, Cabinet Affairs Minister, Dr. Elia Lomuro has said.
Speaking on an occasion marking the International Day of Peace, at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre yesterday, Lomuro said the quest to control government, power, and wealth provokes anger among politicians, depriving citizens of the essential basic services, they deserve.
“It deprives people of hospitals and schools, provokes a population rise, causing instability, and politicizes ethnic groups, resulting in political conflicts,” he said.
The minister added that angered police, military, and security sectors are other factors that cause conflicts.
But Lomuro said the UN has a responsibility to help South Sudan make peace prevail.
“I believe the UN has a task because the most powerful leaders of the world are in the UN, and they have the power to stop amnesty and corruption and institute good governance everywhere so that we have peace throughout the world,” said Lomuro.
He hinted that the highly anticipated 2024 general election is the only way South Sudan can achieve peace.
Minister Lomuro said once they have the unified forces deployed, people will be proud of South Sudan.
“We are determined to do away with the malicious, politicized ethnic army by forming a national security that belongs to the people, the army that citizens will run to when they are in danger, and the police that will protect the households by observing the law and constitution,” he underscored.
World Peace Day is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on September 21st.
It is dedicated to world peace and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access.
The day was established in 1981, first observed in 1982, and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people.