Civil society organisations in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, have called on the South Sudanese government to increase investment in economic development and social services, saying this is essential for sustainable peace.
The call was made in a statement marking the International Day of Peace on Monday. The groups urged the government to invest more in Yei and other parts of the country to address the needs of local communities.
Maneno Grace, deputy chairperson of the Civil Society Forum in Greater Yei, questioned the level of government investment in social services and called for greater attention to the economic challenges facing communities.
“Things are bad. They are going from bad to worse. Yes, we have reached a milestone, but what is the government doing about the situation of the elderly? What is it doing about the health sector?
“Very few partners are working in the health sector. Our priority is for the government to respond to the needs of social services.
“This is what we are trying to communicate: if we have peace in Yei or in the nation at large, look at the infrastructure and the roads – they are in very poor condition. What are we doing? Can we invest in infrastructure and other sectors so that we can create conditions for peace?”
Meanwhile, Yei Youth Chairperson Gaga Frank urged politicians not to use young people in activities that could fuel violence.
He called instead for greater youth participation in peacebuilding and development initiatives across South Sudan.
“We, as the youth, are the changemakers who will bring peace and development to our country. I would like to tell politicians: do not use the youth as instruments of division and destruction, but as instruments of peace and development.”
and then