06/09/2026
HON. AJOK WOL ATAK CALLS FOR DIALOGUE, FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION AMONG SOUTH SUDANESE LEADERS
South Sudanese citizen, Cde. Ajok Wol Atak, has issued an open letter calling on the country’s political leaders, traditional authorities and the wider public to pursue dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation amid continuing political divisions.
In the letter addressed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial and leaders and elders from Greater Bahr el Ghazal, Hon. Ajok urged the parties to resolve political disagreements through peaceful dialogue rather than confrontation.
Hon. Ajok specifically appealed to elders from Aweil, Warrap, Abyei, Lakes and Western Bahr el Ghazal to help bring the concerned parties together for what she described as a “serious family meeting” to openly address grievances and seek common ground.
“No leader is perfect. No politician is above criticism. But disagreement does not have to become hatred, and political competition does not have to become armed conflict,” Ajok said.
She also called on South Sudanese to reduce political hostility on social media, arguing that inflammatory language, accusations and personal attacks risk deepening divisions within communities.
Ajok further said South Sudanese leaders should consider using respected elders, religious figures and other trusted community leaders to facilitate dialogue where trust between political actors has broken down.
The appeal comes with a broader call for leaders to focus on the needs of ordinary citizens, including peace, food security, education, healthcare, infrastructure and opportunities for young people.
“South Sudan has suffered enough. Bahr el Ghazal has suffered enough. Our families have suffered enough,” she wrote.
She urged President Kiir, Gen. Malong, Hon. Nhial Deng and other political actors to choose dialogue over confrontation and reconciliation over revenge.
“History will judge all of us—not only by the positions we held, but by what we did when our people needed peace,” she said.
Ajok concluded her appeal with a call for South Sudanese to unite around a shared national future, saying: “Let us choose peace. Let us choose forgiveness. Let us choose reconciliation. Let us choose South Sudan.”
