A group of South Sudanese community members gathered in Winnipeg on Saturday to protest against government violence in their home country. The rally, held at the steps of the Manitoba legislature, was organized by local residents who are concerned about the rising tensions and bloodshed in South Sudan.
The community came together to express their outrage over the deaths of fellow citizens at the hands of the government, which they claim is responsible for the violence. Martino Laku, a Winnipeg resident who has family still living in South Sudan, described the situation as “devastating” and warned that the conflict could spread quickly.
The rally was sparked by an airstrike in early March that killed at least 19 people in South Sudan’s east, just weeks after government forces withdrew from the area. The incident is linked to the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, who is accused by the government of collaborating with an ethnic militia and stoking rebellion.
The country has been plagued by civil war since 2013, which left hundreds of thousands of people dead and displaced many more. The conflict ended with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, but tensions have flared up again in recent weeks.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni visited South Sudan last week, adding to the country’s instability. The neighboring country’s army has been involved in the conflict and is now helping to secure the capital.
Local residents are calling on the Canadian government to take action against the violence and support peace efforts in South Sudan. They argue that self-determination and commitment to peace are key to resolving the conflict, rather than relying solely on international intervention.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/south-sudanese-rally-winnipeg-1.7503135