By Taban Gabriel
UNMISS celebrated UN Day on Thursday at Juba University under the theme “Peace, Justice, Human Rights, and Respect.” The event featured photo exhibitions, product displays, tree planting, speeches, and awards recognizing artistic contributions.
Traditional performances by the Malle group and the Rwandan contingent captivated the audience, with key figures joining the dance. UNMISS representative Lt. Gen. Mohan Subramanian urged South Sudan to honor its “shared commitment” as a UN member.
Male group traditional performing song (Photo credit: Taban Gabriel, King News)
“This day is not only a reminder of our shared commitment to peace, development, and the achievement of a sustainable goal but also an opportunity to reflect on our collective responsibilities to protect the needs and aspirations of present and future generations in South Sudan and everywhere in the world,” Mohan said.
In addition to his acknowledgment of rapid development in South Sudan, the UN official stressed that South Sudan is yet to experience “the full fruits of peace and development”
“ South Sudan became the 193rd member of the United nation 14 years ago, but across this young nation, we will all agree that millions of people continue to suffer from conflict compounded by climate shocks and extreme food insecurity,” he said
Mohand encouraged South Sudanese to remain hopeful for a better future “as reflected in the faces of the youth who have gathered here”
Justo Wani, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration at the University of Juba, said South Sudanese faces challenges in celebrating its own diversity “as well as forging a cohesive and common national identity”
Planting of trees (Photo credit: Taban Gabriel, King News)
Wani urges the government of South Sudan to appreciate the support of the International community and corporate with the UN as it navigates “the difficult but necessary journey from war to peace”
A student representative from the University of Juba, Chol Kongnyil Matok assures South Sudanese of a “blissful future ahead”
“We all need to strive for and work for a better future created by our own, not somebody, we don’t need to get into the future, we need to create, already we are in the future, the only thing we need to do is to build a formidable peace, a lasting one so that we enjoy the privileges and better world”
The award-winning pictorial of the day depicted some people climbing up on a tree while a UN police fell on the ground, raising a flag in his hand
The Winner, Selim Juma Abbas, encouraged South Sudanese to work for peace “If we work together, we will have a lasting peace everywhere,” he said
South Sudan became the 193rd member of the UN 14 years ago, immediately after attaining its independence in 2011.
However, just two years later, in 2013, it was rocked by a violent conflict, which lasted until 2018 following the signing of the Revitilzed Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS)
Rwandans Performing during the event. (Photo credit: Taban Gabriel, King News)