Potential Solutions to Conflict in Greater Tonj

It is unsurprising that Greater Tonj is experiencing continued cycles of armed conflict. This is an issue that has always been dear to me, and I think I have tried in my own capacity to participate in solutions. This ranges from being part of the Thiik Community Conference in 2017, to the Greater Tonj Peace Conference held in Juba in 2021. The famous (or for some of you, infamous) ‘Governor’s Green Book,’ was developed out of the latter conference.

Numerous governors have come into Tonj, and tried and failed. This is not necessarily a reflection of their ability or commitment, but rather that the issue of Greater Tonj and armed conflict is so deeply rooted and multifaceted, that it requires a multi-pronged, long-term strategy. I am by no means an expert, but I am a highly concerned daughter of Tonj East who is married to Tonj North; Tonj is the only true home that I have. Here are my suggestions for a multi-pronged strategy, based on the work I have done, readings I have undertaken, and observations I have made;

Legal Accountability: Anyone found arming civilians, inciting violence or participating in armed violence needs to be held legally accountable. Strengthening the judicial system to ensure fair and transparent prosecution is necessary to deter future violence and to restore public trust in the legal system.
Community-led Disarmament: Disarmament needs to be community-led, carried out through local mechanisms involving chiefs, community leaders and civil society. Additionally, offering incentives such as development projects and livelihood training can encourage voluntary disarmament.
Strengthening Gun Control Laws: The national government must enforce national legislation regulating, licensing and tracking firearms possession.
Reconciliation and Dialogue: Inter-communal and truth-telling dialogue can help address historical grievances to reduce cycles of violence.
Livelihood Alternatives: Economic programs such as vocational training and education can shift incentives away from cattle-related violence.
End to Excessive Military Force: The use of military gunships and bombing operations would be counterproductive, resulting in casualties, property destruction, and deepening community resentment. Excessive responses may suppress violence temporarily but it will ultimately worsen mistrust and fuel further violence.
Strengthened Local Security Presence: A well-trained, community-trusted security presence must be established to protect civilians and uphold law and order. When people feel adequately protected, the incentive to self-arm for defence diminishes. Deploying neutral security, increasing patrols in high-risk areas, and building permanent posts near vulnerable communities can reduce fear and reliance on self-arming.
Targeted Interventions to Deter Ambushes of Military, and Prevention of Military Arms Theft: There must be tighter control and accountability within the SSPDF to prevent arms leakage. Improving military discipline, securing armories, rotating troops to reduce collusion with local groups, can assist in reducing arms diversion.
Nationwide Disarmament Post-Peace: A national disarmament program must eventually follow once durable peace is achieved in #SouthSudan. A phased, peaceful disarmament process across all regions will be critical in breaking the long-term dependence on arms for security and power.
Cross-State Cooperation Between Governors: Conflict in Tonj is also exacerbated by external actors. Therefore, sustainable peace depends on coordinated action among the governors of Warrap, Lakes and Unity. Aligning disarmament can reduce cross-border conflict. However, this solution also depends on the successes of neighbouring states in managing internal conflict.
Lesson Learning, and Strong and Decisive Leadership: Lessons can be learned from the successes of Lakes State Governor Rin Tueny Mabor. The Governor of Lakes State has been successful in managing armed violence due to his strong and decisive leadership ability, enabling the consistency of enforcement of law and order. The Governor of Warrap State can also learn from the challenges he encountered, and foster a solution that takes this into consideration.

The complexity of conflict in Greater Tonj (and South Sudan in general), requires a solution that cannot be brought through force alone. A long-lasting solution requires the cooperation of local communities, the strengthening of security and judicial systems, controlling the spread of firearms, and cooperation with neighbouring states. Coupled with strong, decisive leadership, a peaceful future is possible.

South Sudan and The World, Early Adulthood: Managing Career, Marriage and Parenthood

I had the great honour of being interviewed for Akol Dok’s podcast series, South Sudan and the World. This podcast series has interviewed notable South Sudanese who are active within the community either through entrepreneurship, politics, or sports.

In this episode of the podcast, I open up about my childhood in the Netherlands, and my struggles in school and receiving language therapy. I also offer a lot of appreciation to my parents, who despite being political refugees, gave my siblings and me the best childhood, while also instilling in us important life values and an unmatched love for our country, South Sudan.

I explain my academic and professional journey; how I became an activist, and how I am currently managing studying for a second Master’s degree, work, family life, and other activities. In the podcast, I also touch on feminism and the patriarchy, public health, and climate change.

Please support Akol’s podcast by following and subscribing through YouTube, Apple and Spotify. You can listen to this episode of the podcast below;

YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/yvcjwuyr
Apple: http://tinyurl.com/3je3re2c
Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/4cykr6st

Chatham House Common Futures Conversations: A Goodbye From Me

After the Chatham House Centenary Lifetime Award event in October 2021

My time as a Common Futures Conversations (CFC) member is sadly coming to an end in December 2023. From January 2024, I will no longer have access to the CFC platform. I joined the first cohort of CFC in February 2020.

So what is CFC? CFC is a project by the think tank, Chatham House. CFC is an online platform that brings together 18 to 30-year-old youth from Africa and Europe to discuss ideas and issues affecting the world today. In addition, CFC members have the unique opportunity to dialogue with policymakers and attend various events related to Chatham House. Every so often CFC opens applications so that more youth can join the platform. With this also comes the departure of youth who reach over the age of 30, and I am one of them.

I reflect on CFC with a lot of gratitude. I believe CFC has played a big role in my leadership journey; CFC has enabled me to network with high-profile individuals, policymakers and fellow youth, while also helping me develop knowledge and skills in different areas. Despite CFC being an online platform, I felt incredibly involved with CFC and Chatham House, particularly through their in-person events. Below are a few activities that I was involved with as a CFC member:

1. I wrote an article

In July 2020 I was able to contribute to Chatham House’s magazine called ‘The World Today’ about efforts my organisation was taking to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Sudan. You can read more about it here.

2. I chaired/moderated an online webinar

In June 2021 I had the honour of chairing a great online discussion on modern slavery. The all-women panel was one of my most proudest online moments. You can watch the discussion here.

3. I attended a Chatham House event

In October 2021 I was invited to attend the Chatham House Centenary Lifetime Award, where I witnessed Sir David Attenborough receiving his Centenary Lifetime Award for his commitment to conservation and raising awareness of the growing climate crisis.

4. I attended Chatham House’s annual conference

In June 2022 I attended Chatham House’s annual conference. This conference was special because it marked Chatham House’s centenary (100 years). The hybrid conference had high-profile speakers including the former President of New Zealand (whom I also had the honour of having a side-chat with about healthcare), Helen Clark, former President of Tanzania (who attended via video link, and whom I also had the honour of asking a question around Universal Health), Dr Jakaya Kikwete, former Acting Minister of Health for Ukraine (whom I also had the honour of having my question answered), Dr Ulana Suprun, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hon. Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Shadow Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Hon. David Lammy MP, President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and so many more great industry leaders and policymakers.

The event also presented CFC members the opportunity to interact and work on group tasks together. Most importantly, as CFC members we were recognised at the event and the then outgoing director of Chatham House, Sir Robin Niblett, also made time to speak with each of us.

A CFC Members’ group Photo with the former director of Chatham House, Sir Robin Niblett

The great two days ended with a (great!) dinner and a speech given by former Prime Minister, Sir John Major.

Sir John Major was one of many speakers closing the conference. The evening featured appreciation and a goodbye to Sir Robin Niblett.

And absolutely last, but not least, CFC members were given something to signify the 100 years of Chatham House. This memento is now on my bookshelf;

This book features 100 years of Chatham House and details about major events and notable speakers, including Nelson Mandela and Kenyan politician Raila Odinga (whose speech I attended at Chatham House in 2017)

A foreword by Queen Elizabeth II (check the mention of CFC!)

A warm thank you to CFC and Chatham House for providing me with incredible opportunities that I will remember and reflect on with gratitude. I am grateful for the skills I have learned, the networks I have created and the friends that I have made through CFC. Let this article be evidence that CFC is not just an online platform, and that Chatham House values the contributions of young people.

Why the sudden change? My MPH journey.

This post is for those who don’t know which direction to go in life, specifically regarding professional development (education and/or career). It’s for those who want hope, and reassurance that it’s ok not to have it all figured out (yet).

I am 31 years old and I still do not have it all figured out yet. Throughout my 20s I focused on many different activities, including journalism/writing, activism (focusing on youth representation in politics, peacebuilding, and women’s rights), and a career in STEM. I was often asked why I was doing ‘too much’ (I have a blog post in drafts about this to be published soon (hopefully!)), and in all honesty, I am a multi-faceted individual. I used to be a big bookworm during my teenage years and developed so many different interests. I am also quite passionate about humanity and the rights of young people, girls, and women. For this reason, I remain an activist at heart, championing the rights of many. However, my post isn’t about my multiple focuses, it’s really about how it is ok to keep figuring things out.

Throughout my figuring-out process (from my 20s until now) I did many different activities because of my interests, and because I still wanted to know what I really wanted to do. Somewhere, in my late 20s, I had this realisation that I wanted to return to school. I wanted to pursue postgraduate studies. I wanted to pursue a doctorate, but not in my field (health and life sciences, and more specifically, Microbiology). At the University of Birmingham, where I studied my Microbiology Master’s in 2016, I had many opportunities to study for a doctorate in my field. But I simply chose not to. Though I finished my Master’s with a Merit, and even had some research published, my heart wasn’t into the concept of studying a science degree that is heavily wet lab-based. This is not to trivialise the importance of lab work, lab work is important, but it just isn’t for me. Instead, I want to deal with people, I want to deal with policy, and I want to actually be part of change.

After researching various options, I was advised to do a Master’s in Public Health to give myself some background knowledge on Public Health. This would also allow me to study topics related to my interests and experience (South Sudan, women/girls, healthcare, etc.).

I was given offers to two great schools (LSHTM and The University of Manchester) and I deferred the year I received an offer. Ultimately I went with the latter school (for various reasons I will not go into right now). It is a choice I do not regret because I am enjoying the University, the course staff, and the course content. On top of that, I am currently achieving distinctions in my studies. I feel I have found the right fit for me; I am on the path where I want to be. However, I am mindful that things can change along the way, and that is absolutely ok.

So, for those not knowing which path to take in life, for those who think they must have it all by a certain age, realise and accept that life is a journey. You will experience different interests, triggers and opportunities. And that is absolutely ok.

The Evacuation of South Sudanese from Sudan

This is a post, not about me specifically, but about an initiative I am a part of.

Sudan has unfortunately descended into war, leaving millions of people seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Sudan hosts around 2 million South Sudanese, many of them in Khartoum, and having no means to be evacuated back to South Sudan.

Friend and colleague Akoch Manhiem, has created a Committee that is focused on the evacuation of South Sudanese from Sudan, to Renk, South Sudan. This project requires fundraising, in order for us to book trucks that will transport around 100 to 160 people back to South Sudan.

To donate to this initiative, we have a GoFundMe. For those in South Sudan, M-Gurush is available:

If you want to contact me directly, visit the contact page, and I will get back to you promptly.

For more on the initiative, the BBC covered it in a story here and Spanish media, El Pais, covered it here.