Emmanuel Jal addressing a gathering in Nyakuron Cultural Center, Juba. [Gurtong | Waakhe Simon Wudu]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 20 September 2012 [Gurtong] – Emmanuel Jal told a public gathering in Nyakuron Cultural Center that the current problems including internal conflicts, corruption, rebels fighting the government and illiteracy need joint efforts by all the relevant persons.
“What I’m pushing for is social responsibility. The biggest force that can make the country move forward is the people. Nobody is going to build our country, but it is us – South Sudanese,” Jal said.
He called civil society which includes the business community to work together in contributing to the efforts set to find long lasting solutions to the country’s current political and economic hard felt challenges.
He underlined the role of civil society activists and the business community in participating in bringing peace in the new nation.
South Sudan prior to her attained independence last year in July continues biting critical challenges ranging from food, insecurity, corruption, inadequate resources besides long term issues to over come such as illiteracy.
The country also continues to have political and economic challenges with Sudan though the two are expected to agree on outstanding issues this week in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa.
Jal who is executing his mission of “we want peace,” challenged all South Sudanese to ask themselves of what contribution each is having towards the nation building before calling government responsible over several failures that it is being blamed for.
He called for individual change of mind and attitudes towards development before calling the government responsible over the prevailing problems in the country.
He said South Sudan has no peace, describing it in his own words that “Peace is justice, equality and freedom for all. It is when my belly is full,” some thing he said can only be overcome first by personal change.
Emmanuel Jal is a South Sudanese musician and former child soldier.