Authorities in South Sudan’s Yei River State on Monday launched a peace dissemination campaign in the state.
The event was launched under the theme, “Peace and Reconciliation for Realization of Sustainable Development in Yei River State.”
Speaking during Monday’s launch, the chairperson of the peace taskforce, Jacob Aligo Lo Ladu urged members of the rebel group National Salvation Front (NAS) join the peace process.
Aligo, who doubles as a political advisor to the state governor, said the peace taskforce will use radio talk shows, peace rallies and community outreach dialogues to roll out peace activities.
He said members of the peace taskforce would also visit refugee camps in Uganda to disseminate the peace agreement.
“The taskforce has developed a plan of action for dissemination of the peace agreement, including workshops, radio talk shows and other means aimed at reaching a wider section of the community, which includes those in the refugee camps in Uganda,” said Aligo.
“The dissemination of the peace agreement is crucial to clear the malicious actions by the anti-peace elements on the implementation of the peace agreement,” he added.
Aligo appealed to the international community, civil society organizations and the national pre-transitional committee to extend a supporting hand for the successful dissemination of the peace deal.
“I want to take this opportunity to call on the national pre-transitional committee and all other peace partners to provide the peace taskforce with financial support,” he stressed.
On his part, the acting state governor, Yousto Baba Dema lauded civil society organizations and other partners involved in disseminating the revitalized peace deal to communities in the state.
He, however, called on all forces in both government and the armed opposition to respect the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and cease all forms of violations.
“I stand here to declare today (Monday) as a day for beginning new hopes for peace, full of love, forgiveness, dialogue and reconciliation with one another, “said Baba.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, armed opposition leader Riek Machar and several opposition groups signed a peace accord last year to establish a transitional government by May 12, 2019.
But the formation of the government was extended by six months to November after the parties failed to implement key provisions of the agreement such as creating a unified army and determining the number of states.