OPINION: A Call for Unity, Peace and Justice in South Sudan

I am stepping forward today to echo the voice of the voiceless, a call for unity, peace and justice, for a better South Sudan.

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters,

I speak not merely as an individual, but as a voice reflecting the hopes, struggles and dreams of a nation yearning for healing and harmony.

For far too long, we have been divided, not by fate, but by the decisions of men. We have witnessed brother turning against brother, tribe clashing with tribe and leaders failing those they should protect. But I say this: the time for healing is now.

Unity

We are many tribes and many communities, but we are one people. Our true strength lies not in our differences, but in our ability to unite. Let us remember: no single tribe can build a nation alone. Only together can we build a future that respects and honours us all.

Unity does not mean denying our differences. it means respecting them. It means gathering around one table and speaking one truth. we want peace, we want dignity and we want a life worth living.

Peace

Peace is not merely the absence of war. Peace is when mothers can sleep without fear. It is when children go to school instead of fleeing from violence. It is when farmers plant crops instead of burying loved ones.

Peace begins with forgiveness. It starts when we choose dialogue over revenge, when we decide to lay down our arms and lift one another up. Our people have suffered enough. The cycle of violence must end. Reconciliation must begin.

Justice

But peace cannot last without justice. Without justice, peace is a fragile silence. We must demand accountability, not revenge. We must expect leaders who serve, not steal. Our courts must defend the weak, not shield the powerful.

Justice means that every citizen, rich or poor, Dinka or Nuer, Bari or Zande has the same rights, the same voice and the same hope.

In Conclusion

Let this be the generation that ends hatred and builds hope. Let this be the year we declare no more blood for power, no more pain for politics and no more silence in the face of injustice.

Together, let us rise, not as tribes, not as enemies, but as one people, united in purpose, walking forward hand in hand toward a future built on peace, unity, and justice.

May our voices be heard.
May our hearts be strong.
And may our children inherit a nation that is whole and free.

Big love, South Sudan, my homeland.

Bakata Lemi Abe is a concerned South Sudanese citizen and resident of Yei River County.

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