Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has urged journalists and civil society organizations to help his government in peacebuilding efforts by fighting propaganda and hate speech.
The governor made the remarks in Torit town on Tuesday last week during a peace forum organized by the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization, to strengthen dialogue for peace and reconciliation in the state.
Lobong appealed to journalists and civil society activists to focus on solutions to problems affecting communities in Eastern Equatoria.
“We want to bring an end to people’s suffering. Therefore, I will appeal to development partners, journalists, social media users and civil society to help us in peacebuilding. The journalists should stop writing propaganda, fake news, and counter-accusations without bringing solutions,” Lobong said.
The governor further said a road map on how to achieve lasting peace, involving the various stakeholders, has been drawn.
Paul Jalingo, the acting Executive Director of the State Peace Commission, said the coronavirus outbreak halted peacebuilding efforts in the state.
He appealed to the current leadership to allow peace partners to continue with peacebuilding activities to prevent further communal conflicts.
“The Peace Commission has been coordinating peace and reconciliation with its partners, but COVID-19 has made peace and reconciliation activities come to a standstill. This COVID-19 pandemic cannot prevent peace partners from conducting its activities because peace is needed by everyone,” said Jalingo.
David Dagu, the Program Director for Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative, said the forum aimed at mitigating conflicts.
“The aim is to strengthen dialogue for peace and reconciliation in South Sudan. We are here to engage in ways of how we can disseminate rightful information,” Dagu explained.
More than 40 participants from civil society organizations, government, media houses and organized forces attended the dialogue.