South Sudan is a Nation of Peace, not a place defined by perpetual violence or displacement

By Wek Atak Kacjang

The President of the Europe Peace Foundation and Founder of the Global Peace 2030 Agenda has declared that South Sudan is a nation of peace, rather than a region defined by perpetual violence or displacement. He emphasised that by 2030; refugee camps should be a thing of the past, noting that South Sudan’s future lies in peace, economic development, youth job creation, and long-term stability.

Sappan KC Hum, President of the Europe Peace Foundation and Founder of the Global Peace 2030 mission, stated that the people of South Sudan have endured immense hardship from prolonged conflict and economic difficulties. Through the Global Peace 2030 initiative, the organization’s goal is to help achieve lasting, nationwide peace by 2030.

“Internationally across the Americas, Europe, and beyond South Sudan is often perceived primarily through the lens of conflict, violence, and refugee camps. In the 21st century an era defined by technology and progress violence is an outdate path. By 2030, conflict must be relegated to history. South Sudan is rich in culture, academic potential, natural resources, and human capability. Peace is attainable right here on the ground,” Hum said.

He added that from the central government down to the state and municipal levels, all three tiers of leadership must align in declaring peace. South Sudan is ready to welcome tourists, researchers, investors, and visitors from around the globe.

“The Global Peace 2030 mission fully endorses and supports the proposed National Inter-Party Political Dialogue on Elections and the convening of an International Peace Conference in Juba following the conclusion of the electoral process. Sustainable democratic transitions require political consensus, mutual trust, and non-violent civic engagement. By prioritizing structured dialogue among political forces, civil society actors, and key stakeholders, South Sudan can strengthen its democratic foundations, safeguard peace, and guarantee a free, fair, and transparent process. Peaceful elections are not merely an endpoint; they are a bridge toward sustainable governance, national healing, and prosperity for all South Sudanese.”

“I call upon all national, regional, and international partners to stand together in support of political dialogue and democratic processes in the Republic of South Sudan. On behalf of the Europe Peace Foundation and the Global Peace 2030 initiative, I reaffirm our full readiness to support transparent dialogue, mediation, capacity building, and humanitarian cooperation in partnership with the government and the people of South Sudan.”

Meanwhile, Amute Francis, Head of Office at the Europe Peace Foundation in Juba, South Sudan, stated that the Global Peace 2030 mission reflects an unwavering commitment to standing alongside the resilient people of South Sudan in their pursuit of lasting peace, national reconciliation, justice, and human dignity.

“Global Peace 2030 formally presented a proposal for the declaration of South Sudan as a Peaceful Nation, alongside a proposed National Peace, Reconciliation, and Development Roadmap Towards 2030. Declaring South Sudan a peaceful nation does not imply that every challenge or conflict has been resolved. Rather, it signals a unified national commitment to reject violence, eliminate inflammatory rhetoric, resolve political and social differences through peaceful dialogue, and uphold human dignity above all else.”

However, Afram Wani Peter, Senior Legal & Technical Advisor for the Europe Peace Foundation Mission stated that the people of South Sudan are truly encouraged by the visit of the distinguished representative from the Europe Peace Foundation. He recognized that this is a critical time to visit Africa specifically Juba as South Sudan prepares for its upcoming national election process in December.

“Global peace vision is simple yet profound: to let peace prevail. The core mission of the Europe Peace Foundation centres on fostering lasting peace across the Republic of South Sudan. Setting 2030 as our target milestone provides a crucial and immediate timeline. The year 2030 is right around the corner, and it requires every one of us to unite around this common goal,” Peter said.

He added that in his capacity as Senior Legal and Technical Advisor, he accompanied the representative to engage with leadership across the country. They began with the executive branch, holding meetings with all government institutions. After completing engagements with the executive leadership, they met with the legislative branch, including the First Deputy Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly, where they thoroughly outlined the objectives of the roadmap.

“Our task now on the ground is to move toward practical implementation. Based on the commitments made during these sessions and the strong momentum behind this initiative, we are confident that the concrete steps discussed will begin to materialize over the coming months,” he concluded.