By Deng Athian
A former national Member of Parliament and wife of opposition leader Gen. Paul Malong Awan, Hon. Ajok Wol Atak, last Sunday renewed her call for forgiveness, dialogue, and reconciliation among South Sudan’s political leaders.
In her new month message of peace addressed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Ajok urged the president to consider forgiving opposition leaders and opening dialogue to address political differences and promote peace.
Ajok said South Sudanese leaders should resolve their differences through dialogue rather than confrontation, noting that continued political divisions ultimately affect ordinary citizens.
“Why can we not first sit together as brothers and sisters, speak honestly about our disagreements, acknowledge our mistakes, forgive one another, and find a way forward?”
The former legislator also appealed to elders and leaders across Greater Bahr el Ghazal, including Aweil, Warrap, Abyei, Lakes, and Western Bahr el Ghazal, to help bring political leaders together for peaceful dialogue.
“Let us sit together as a family before our disagreements become another source of suffering for our people.”
Ajok further called for an end to political hostility on social media, urging South Sudanese to address their differences through direct and constructive engagement.
“Let us stop fighting one another through social media and start talking to one another face-to-face.”
She stressed that political differences should not be allowed to develop into hatred or armed conflict.
“Disagreement does not have to become hatred, and political competition does not have to become armed conflict.”
Ajok has made similar appeals in the past, including calls for President Kiir to forgive Gen. Paul Malong and other opposition leaders and create an opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation.
She concluded her latest message by urging leaders to place the interests of citizens and the future of South Sudan above political differences.
“History will judge all of us, not only by the positions we held, but by what we did when our people needed peace.”
Hon. Ajok Wol Atak currently serves at the national SPLM office as an advisor for investment.