15 January 2014 - A group of South Sudanese women said today they wanted to be included in ongoing peace negotiations in Addis Ababa to resolve conflict in their country.

Under the umbrella “The South Sudan Women Leaders for Peace Initiatives Forum”, they called on the government and regional powers responsible for the dialogue to include women in trying to find peaceful resolutions to the crisis.

A women’s representative, Agnes Kwaje Losuba, told UN Radio Miraya that women’s contribution should not be overlooked.

“We … appeal that the government … as well as regional powers utilize the peace building potential of women in South Sudan, simply because women have skills and women have experience that cust across ethnic divides,” Ms. Losuba said.

“We don’t have tribes, we are women. That is what signifies (what) women … are – tribeless,” she said. “We are sixty percent in South Sudan and this voice of sixty percent population in South Sudan must be … heard loud calling for peace, development and tranquility in South Sudan.”

Mr. Losuba said they had already met with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and were hoping to meet with the opposition.

Conflict broke in the country between pro- and anti-government forces in the capital Juba, Central Equatoria State, on 15 December 2013, quickly spreading to several other states.