Youths from the greater Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria and Upper Nile regions of South Sudan on Sunday congregated at the Torit Freedom Square to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Torit Mutiny, where hundreds of people were killed as they fought against oppression by the then Sudan government.
On 18th of August 1955, southern Sudanese in the Sudanese army revolted in Torit, Eastern Equatoria region and many were subsequently killed and buried in mass graves, marking the beginning of Sudan’s first civil war.
President Salva Kiir declared August 18th as the Veterans Day.
Speaking during the occasion, the team leader for South Sudan youth Mr. Mwaka Daniel called on the youth to stop using the social media platforms to spread hate speech and be part of resolving the conflict in the country.
“So we are here as youth who came from Juba and the youth from Torit state that we should do something apart from criticizing the government. We should always take the responsibility of carrying out the work and working with the government and also I call on the government to work with young people,” he said.
Daniel urged both the state and national governments to ensure the day is honored for posterity.
Kapoeta state acting governor and minister of local government Jaffar Lowara Mosing said it is time for development and all resources should be geared towards peace and development.
“This is a time for development. There is no need for our resources to be used daily for guns, anti-tank, and the military. We need people with big minds of internet, safety, and security. Until when will our people not sleep peacefully, till when will we see deployment here and there?” Lowara lamented.
Dominic Otwari Theodore, the acting speaker of Torit state legislative assembly also echoed the call for development, saying peace is a necessity for economic prosperity.
Torit governor Tobiolo Alberio Oromo hailed the youth from the three regions for coming together to trace the country’s historical roots.
He said, “These youth came together and said we are in a confusing situation, we are lost, let us go to Torit and start tracing from there where we started, where we got lost and where we are going.”
Governor Tobiolo said the unity shown by the youths from the greater Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria and Upper Nile regions is a sign of hope for the nation and called on them to remain united.