On 23 September, hundreds of people converged on the Al Zubair Stadium in El Fasher, North Darfur, to participate in the launch of the “We Need Peace Now” campaign, organized by the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the National Sudanese Youth Union to support the peace process in Darfur.
For a period of six months, the campaign will aim at encouraging youth to become committed participants in the peace process and proactive by equipping them with necessary tools that would make peace part of their daily discussions.
At the launch of the campaign, Deputy Joint Special Representative, Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, urged the participants to start acting as ambassadors of peace. “We hope that the parties to the conflict and indeed, every peace loving person in Darfur will not only listen to what the youth have to say but play an active role in restoring lasting peace in Darfur,” he added.
The Chairman of the Youth Union in North Darfur, Salih Ahmed Elshaikh, said that time had come for the youth to discard tribalism. “Youth are strong enough to build peace and achieve security and prosperity, and it is time to sit with the all armed movements to discuss the issue of the homeland,” he stated.