As South Sudan marks the fourth anniversary of its independence from Sudan, there is not a lot to celebrate. Many in South Sudan, and around the world, who celebrated the country’s independence in 2011 knew that the there was a lot of work to be done in the fledgling country. However, no one imagined that two short years after breaking away from its northern neighbor the country would be involved in a brutal civil war that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands, displaced more than two million, and has more than 2.5 million at risk of famine.
The United States was integral in South Sudan achieving independence, and has consistently been one of the top donors to the new nation. With President Obama’s upcoming trip to the region—making stops in Kenya and Ethiopia—he has the unique opportunity to engage with regional heads of state to devise a coordinated effort to bring the conflict to an end. As our Director of Policy and Programs, Mike Brand, argues in a comment piece featured in The Hill, the only way to bring the conflict to an end is if regional heads of state put enough pressure on the two leaders of the warring factions, President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar.
Read the full opinion piece at The Hill or click here for a PDF version.
Take Action
Tell the President to put South Sudan at the top of his agenda during his upcoming trips to Kenya and Ethiopia.
Jewish World Watch (JWW) stands in solidarity with the people of South Sudan on the fourth anniversary of their independence, and their calls for peace, accountability, justice, and reconciliation. We will continue to advocate for:
- an end to the violence;
- an inclusive peace process;
- a transitional government with a fixed deadline;
- justice mechanisms to hold the worst perpetrators of atrocities accountable;
- constitutional reform;
- and a path toward free and fair elections.
We hope that a year from today we can celebrate with the South Sudanese a new South Sudan: a country at peace, a country that respects the human rights of its people, a country with a promising future.