(Courtesy Photo)
Women of Mayom county, Unity State lit candles and shed silent tears for loved ones lost in recent communal violence.
At a prayer event dedicated to peace, healing, and reconciliation, Teresa Nyerieka Manytuil gave a moving reflection on the burden borne by women.
Ms. Nyerieka stated that if those driving the conflict truly understood the deep pain mothers endure after losing their sons and daughters to senseless violence, they would have stopped the fighting long ago.
“We are the silent victims; we carry the pain no one sees. It is our children who are buried, our families that are torn apart,” she said.
Meanwhile, Madam Stella Abayomi, Acting Head of Field Office (HOFO), called on the government to prioritize peaceful dialogue across Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Areas.
Governor Justice Riek Bim Top Long who attended the event, promised to restore peace and stability between the communities.
“We are drawing a new image of calmness that will unite our people,” Governor Top pledged.
James Liyliy Kuol, Commissioner of Mayom, extended a heartfelt apology to the neighboring Abienhom community, urging a return to unity.
“We are not enemies, we are brothers. We were once one, and we must find our way back,” he said.
The Chairman of the Bul Community Association, Mr. Simpson Lok Tuor, reminded attendees of their shared heritage, saying, “Peace was our way before, it must be our way again.”
The prayer event, themed “Promoting Peace, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation,” brought together grieving families, community leaders, and government officials in a call for healing.
The event, organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in partnership with the Catholic Church and the Government of Unity State, served as a moment of reflection and a renewed commitment to peacebuilding and reconciliation.
As candles burned into the night, women prayed not just for healing—but for a future where their children can grow up without fear.
