The Evangelical Revival Organization (ERO) - a faith-based group in Juba, says it is shameful to see South Sudan at war with itself after attaining independence from Sudan through the help of the international community.  Daria Kwaje, a member of the Organization questioned the wisdom behind the on-going conflict in the country.

“It is even shameful to see the international community seeing us fighting. First of all we fought Khartoum wanting to be alone as Southerners and the international community helped us attend this, so why fight again?”

Kwaje appealed to the government to expedite the deployment of the Regional Protection Force.

“The government should speed up the deployment of the 4,000-troop strong Regional Protection Force.  We learned that UNMISS has only 13,000 troops in South Sudan. This number is not enough to protect civilians in the whole country... Those who are suffering are the civilians who have no guns in their hands.”

She said the conflict caused untold suffering to them as mothers.

“Taking care of children is left to us mothers. We run with them to the forest when there is conflict, we spend days without food, our children don’t go to school and they are going to lose their education. This pains us a lot as mothers and we are not happy.”

She appealed to the warring parties to compromise instead of insisting on solving the South Sudan crisis by violent means.

“We really need peace. We are looking for peace and we are responsible for this peace as South Sudanese”, says Caesarina Goro Yata, another member of ERO.

When asked about her take on the expected deployment of the Regional Protection Force, Yata said:

 “I think anybody who comes here to assist us in getting permanent and progressive peace is welcome.”

  She said there is a need for a culture of love among South Sudanese for sustainable peace to prevail in the country.

Helen Aya, another ERO member, said that tribalism has torn South Sudan apart.

“The issue of tribalism is the one spoiling our country. We need peace, unity and love. If there is unity and love, this country can go forward.”

On the Regional Protection Force she said there is no need to judge the book from the cover.

“We should not begin putting obstacles to the arrival of the Regional Protection Force… Let them come first and we see how they perform. People are really suffering. Maybe they are going to change the situation for the better.”

The conversation with members of ERO was part of an UNMISS Communications and Public Information outreach activity aimed at informing ERO about the role and activities of the Mission.