Up until today, the majority of South Sudanese citizens, especially students and the youth in Uganda, are still unaware that the revitalized peace agreement was signed in September 2018. The few who are aware may not understand or have even read the whole document. The South Sudanese Students’ Association at Cavendish University Uganda (CCUSSSA) under the auspices the Network of South Sudanese Civil Society Organizations (NoSSCOU) in partnership with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) aimed to tackle that issue down by facilitating a dissemination Workshop on the agreement. The goal of that workshop was to equip the students and youth leaders with basic skills about the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and encourage active involvement in its implementation. This stems from the fact that proper understanding of R-ARCSS by the people of South Sudan is a precondition for its success. “It is our hope that once the people of South Sudan have properly understood the R-ARCSS, they will support and own it.”, says Donnas Ojok, KAS-Programme officer.

Boutros Biel, a Human Rights Lawyer by profession, led the participants through the peace agreement chapter by chapter and answered the participants’ questions in detail. The revitalized peace agreement was signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 12, 2018, by the incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition, Former Detainees (FDs), South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), and Other Political Parties (OPPs). Key stakeholders including representatives of civil society, women, youth, academia, the business community, regional guarantors, and international witnesses also signed the agreement. The revitalized agreement intends to achieve a permanent ceasefire, restore peace, security, and stability, make institutional reforms, and facilitate economic recovery and national reconciliation and healing in South Sudan.

“It is our collective responsibility to bring positive sustainable peace to South Sudan” – stated the participant Nhial Bol Khor. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the R-ARCSS is essential in order to find possibilities to actively take part in its implementation. “You are the future of South Sudan! Let us come together, build a nation and work together” – that is how Clement Akech Deng, Deputy Ambassador of South Sudan, encouraged the participating South Sudanese Students to engage and spread knowledge about the peace agreement. The active participation of the participants in the vital discussion showed that the participants are highly motivated to engage for a peaceful South Sudan.

Written by Sophie Brandt