Juba hosts inter-ethnic reconciliation wrestling tournament ahead of Machar return
Ahead of the much anticipated return of South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar to the capital Juba, the country today held a wrestling tournament in the Juba Stadium in efforts to reconcile all the ethnic communities.
The event dubbed ‘wrestling for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation was organized by the country’s ministry of culture in collaboration with the USAID.
Thousands of spectators attended the event amid the high temperatures, and cheered their communities’ representatives on.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has been rocked by violence for over two years.
The war started in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his then deputy Riek Machar of plotting to overthrow his government, allegations that Machar denied, but went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The conflict has killed thousands and displaced over two million people from their homes.
Monday however signals a possible end to the violence when the AU-backed transitional unity government takes shape.
Riek Machar is expected to retake the position of vice president on Monday, hopefully ending the terrible conflict.
The government and the rebels have time and again broken unity agreements, with each side accusing the other of sabotaging the peace process.
This time however, there is high optimism that Machar will return to Juba and with his assumption of the vice president post, there shall return peace in Africa’s newest nation.
