By Emmanuel Mandella

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), through its Western Equatoria State Field Office, has officially launched a grassroots peace building initiative, under the theme “Peace Begins With Me.” The campaign is intended to promote peace from an individual and to the broader community and nation.

The colorful ceremony, held in Yambio on Saturday, was attended by state officials, civil society, youth leaders, and religious representatives.

Speaking during the launch, Emmanuel Dukundani, who represented the Head of the UNMISS Field Office in Yambio, emphasized the power of individual responsibility in building peaceful communities.

“It has been a long but meaningful journey as we gather to launch the ‘Peace Begins with Me’ campaign,” Dukundani stated.

“For peace to prevail across Western Equatoria and South Sudan, it must begin with each of us starting from our homes. If we truly want peace, especially among the youth, we must be intentional. Youth can either be agents of peace or weapons of destruction depending on how we guide them. So the question is ‘where do we stand?”

Dukundani reaffirmed UNMISS’s commitment to supporting peace, stressing the mission’s four central mandates, which are: protection of civilians, implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, humanitarian aid facilitation, and monitoring of human rights violations.

“Without peace, development is impossible. But with peace, schools open, businesses thrive, and families flourish. Let this campaign not end here. Let us carry it to our neighborhoods, schools, and churches. Peace begins with me, with you, with all of us,” he added.

Also addressing the gathering, Robert Mark Yoane, Acting State Minister for Peace Building and Minister for Cooperative Societies and Rural Development, echoed similar sentiments, describing peace not just as the absence of war, but as the foundation for unity, stability, and shared progress.

“True peace goes beyond the silence of guns; it means stability, opportunity, and harmony,” said Yoane.

“I call upon all citizens of Western Equatoria to double their efforts, pray for peace, sing for peace, and most importantly, work for peace. It is not something we wait for; it is something we build together, step by step.”

He also highlighted efforts by the ministry, in collaboration with the South Sudan Council of Churches, to reconcile communities affected by recent unrest in Tombura County.

Adding to the call for community commitment, Bakoyogo James Severino Morris, the Acting Governor of Western Equatoria and Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement, praised the initiative and pledged his administration’s full support.

“The journey to peace requires joint hands. As a government, we recognize the role every citizen plays in this line,” said Hon. Morris. “This campaign reminds us that peace is not just a government responsibility, it’s personal. Each of us must reject violence and promote cohesion. Western Equatoria will only prosper if we treat peace as our collective duty.”

The “Peace Begins With Me” campaign will roll out in all counties of Western Equatoria, incorporating town-hall engagements, school dialogues, youth-led forums, and faith-based initiatives aimed at reconciliation and healing.

With relative tension still eminent in parts of the state, this initiative stands as a significant step toward rebuilding social trust and uniting communities around a shared vision of peace.