South Sudan’s young generation, is breaking the silence and asking the leadership and the nation at large, to listen, reflect and start thinking peace.

A team of three  - two young men and one woman, walked into the Radio Miraya studios, to talk about the pain they have suffered as a result of the of the long period of  conflict in South Sudan.

The trio, acknowledged that the violence has shattered their world, but not their resolve to turn the pain into positive steps for peace.

“I have lost relatives, I have lost family members and I have lost friends and as a South Sudanese growing in refugee camps across the east African region, is not the kind of scenario I want for my children, to grow up in a country where you don’t feel at a home,” said Julian Abul Oyay Deng, an artist whose paintings, tell the story of South Sudan.

For Jacob Bul, the desire to turn the pain into peace, has been triggered by the story of war that has long engulfed South Sudan. He said the constant reminder during the decades of war,  that wars were being fought, so that next generation could enjoy the fruits of liberation, has constantly haunted him and left him wondering when the next generation will come.

With the “next generation” becoming more of an illusion, Jacob says, that  today’s youths that must stand up and work for the peace.  “It is us the youth to stand up and work for the peace that we need to achieve in this country, if we want our children to enjoy the fruits of this nation,” said Jacob. 

Diversity unites nations for peace

The peace narrative by the young people, has dominated Radio Miraya airwaves in recent days. For Jacob, this is why artists felt obligated to come together, compose a song as part of the peace campaign in South Sudan.

John stressed, that working for peace requires focused activities, aimed at gradually eroding the problem of generalization and rebuilding communities based on the values of unity, love, compassion and sustainable relationships.

“If we really want to start talking peace, we should start with our own selves.  If I come to you, I understand you as an individual not as a tribe and when I understand you as a person, the wrongs that you have done to me are not the wrongs that the tribe can do to me,” said Long John. He stressed that “people must start to appreciate the diversity and use it as a tool to build the nation.”

The youths said that there is need to re-evaluate the negative impact tribalism has had on perpetuating disparities in a society rooted in violence.

The Anataban peace campaign, will be officially launched this Friday  to rally support for peace in the country.  The trio say the campaign is targeting everyone who is tired of war and whose desire is to see peace and stability return to South Sudan.

“We are targeting the youths, because they are the ones fighting the war whose objective they don’t know; we are targeting the women who are victims of rape, starvation, and losing a husband that should be working for them; we are targeting the children that are waiting for their fathers to come home and some of them will never see their fathers again,” Abul emphasized.

Abul, John and Jacob, agree that that the youths of South Sudan, need hope to help them redefine and rebuild families and communities, that have broken down due to conflict.

This is why the words echoed by the three; “our hearts have gone dark and peace remains the only detergent that can brighten our days,” remain significant, in asserting the South Sudan’s youth’s desire for peace.