Minister Denay: “Peace is not for political parties, but for the grassroots

2026-03-26 - 13:04

The Minister of Wildlife and Conservation states that peace in South Sudan must extend beyond political agreements to include the grassroots level of payams and counties to ensure national development. Minister Denay Jock Chagor made the remarks on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, during a reception for the reappointed Governor of Unity State, Dr. Joseph Nguen Monytuil. He emphasized that true stability cannot be imported but must be established internally. The Minister noted that the absence of conflict is the primary requirement for national growth, stating that development ceases whenever the country is at war. “Peace is not merely an agreement between political parties. It must exist within our payams and the counties of Unity State,” Minister Chagor said. “True peace leads to development, but it cannot be brought by foreigners; it must begin with us.” He added that once South Sudan achieves internal stability, it can effectively advocate for peace elsewhere and successfully attract international partners. Addressing the widespread nature of insecurity, Chagor clarified that the lack of peace is a collective national issue rather than one confined to specific regions or communities. “The absence of peace is not limited to Nuer lands; it is a challenge across the entire country. Currently, no part of South Sudan is fully at peace, and we need it in every corner,” the Minister stated. The Minister warned that insecurity in any single part of the country affects the stability of the nation as a whole. “We have seen that when the whole country went into war, there was no development in the country. If there is no peace in one area in South Sudan, the whole country will have no peace,” Chagor concluded.