Rebecca Garang urges parties to ‘faithfully’ join National Dialogue

JUBA – South Sudan vice-president Rebecca Garang De Mabior has urged South Sudan parties to the revitalized peace agreement to join the National Dialogue that was constituted by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in 2016.

Garang made the remarks this morning during a meeting of the National Dialogue at Freedom Hall in Juba.

The influential woman politician stated during her remarks to hundreds of audience that she had initially disagreed with the ND process as it was understood as something that was mean to replace the then peace process which led to the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in 2018, but changed her mind when she realized that it was contributing to peace.

“Like hundreds of South Sudanese who question the National Dialogue genesia, I felt that it was not an inclusive discourse but rather a process that looks a lot like a monologue, not dialogue,” Mrs. Garang said.

“But the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and the way our people got to express their grievances forced me to reconsider my concerns and join you in this effort to repair our society’s social fabric,” she added.

She then urged the parties to teh revitalized peace agreement to join the National Dialogue and talk in a faithful manner which she said would be meaningful in addressing the many problems facing the world’s youngest country.

“So, I am here to support the National Dialogue process and call on all parties to agree to dialogue faithfully as people of one nation, not parties. I accepted the National Dialogue idea because of its healing power to grant every citizen’s opportunity to speak the truth,” she said.

“All of us in this nation must consent to discuss our political and ideological differences, not for ourselves but for our grandchildren. The Pretoria declaration brought more parties on board of the National Dialogue,” she added.

She said the “it must be our moral responsibility to strengthen this National Dialogue Platform to create a conducive environment for sustainable peace. As South Sudanese, we need the National Dialogue because we must speak to each other about our grievances.

“After all, the reconciliation dialogue is the means to restore the social fabric. The truth is that for several years, we have done horrible things to each other with impunity and no accountability.

“Dialoguing can help us address the problem of inter-communal conflict and bring healing from the grassroots level. Moreover, national dialogue can help this nation restore individual respect, human dignity, and regard for the rule of law.”