Amid escalating tensions following the arrest of South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, civil society leader Edmund Yakani, has called on First Lady Mary Ayen Mayardit to step in as the “mother of the nation” and help de-escalate the situation.
The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress
(CEPO), appealed directly to the First Lady, emphasizing her role as the
“mother of the nation” and urging her to use her influence to bring peace.
“Normally, women play
a big role in such circumstances that we are in, yearning to see peace and
stability to prevail. I would like to take this opportunity with high respect
and honor to call upon Her Excellency First Lady Mama Ayen, the situation we
are in, we need your role,” Yakani stated.
Following the arrest of the SPLM-IO leader Machar on Wednesday
along with his wife, Angelina Teny, and his team, his deputy Oyet Nathaniel
declared the peace agreement's collapse on Thursday, sparking regional and
international calls for restraint, dialogue, and upholding the agreement.
In this situation, civil society activists are calling on
the First Lady to play a key role in uniting and reconciling the nation by
de-escalating the rising tensions.
“We have nobody to call upon, we have nobody to look at, we
have nobody to kneel before, we have nobody we can raise our hands for help
except you, Your Excellency Mama Ayen. This appeal goes to you as a mother of
the nation. Act now gives us chance for peace and stability to prevail,” Yakani
appealed.
“We believe in you, we have trust in you and we hope that
you will play a big role for this escalating the current situation.”
Yakani called on women in governance, including National
Parliament Speaker Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, to step up as mothers and help
de-escalate the tensions.
“We need our South Sudan women now to take the lead in where
men have disagreed, and men have put violence as a way to handle the problem,”
he added.
Yakani urged President Kiir and Machar to engage in direct
talks, call for a ceasefire, and turn promises to religious leaders into real
peace to prevent the country from returning to full-scale war.
