Women’s groups in Maridi County yesterday gathered at Maridi Freedom Square fasting and praying for peace to come to South Sudan, following the failure of peace talks in Addis Ababa last week.

The organizers linked the event to International Women’s Day but also announced their own theme for the event, “We weep for peace in South Sudan,” which they said was a reference to the Biblical book 1 Samuel 1:10, which says, “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.”

Speaking during the event the women’s representative Mama Sarah Beneth expressed their distress at celebrating women’s day when their sons and husbands are in pain and dying. She said this is why they have used the day for praying for peace instead of celebration.

She further urged women to have unity among them: “We in Maridi we are sad because we need peace… we need love in our hearts from those of us at home, for our children and our husbands.  

County Commissioner Thomas Wilson Yanga thanked all the women and urged them to continue with this spirit.

File photo: Women in Juba protest for peace on 18 September 2014 (Radio Tamazuj)