While hosting a cocktail reception ceremony at the Palm Africa Hotel in Juba on Friday, October 21, 2022 to celebrate Uganda’s 60 Independence Anniversary, Uganda’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Brig. Gen. Ronnie Balya called on nations to tackle global tensions saying they are harmful to international peace and prosperity.
In his speech at a ceremony attended by senior officials of the Government of South Sudan, members of the diplomatic corps, business community and Ugandans living in South Sudan, Brig. Gen. Balya warned that global economic recession is likely to occur if nations do not deal with the wider strategic challenges facing mankind in view of contemporary global developments.
Highlighting climate change, hunger, youth unemployment, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, diseases and poverty as some of the pressing issues, he called upon world leaders to always listen to divergent views to promote peace and harmony in society.
“Instead of using that idle energy to fight senseless wars, when there are avenues for making peace, why don’t you spare that idle energy to fight the strategic threats,” he said.
Commenting on the current global conflicts and tensions, he added that on a personal note, having a background of economics, political and military science, and diplomacy, he hates violence because it leads to unnecessary death and destruction.
Amb. Balya further cited the Ukraine and Russia conflict, and Korean Peninsula tensions, (North Korea and South Korea threatening violence on each other) which have caused humanitarian crisis including thousands of widows and orphans on both sides.
The Ambassador cited conflicts in Middle East, Central Africa, West Africa and Asia and called these sad and absurd developments which do not add value to humanity. He called upon global community to move fast and diagnose the root causes of these conflicts and treat them.
Among the delegates at the function was Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan who presided over as guest of honor. He hailed the excellent bilateral relations between Uganda and South Sudan. He also noted that the East African region is speaking in unison regarding integration, recalling the statements of several Heads of State at Kololo on 9th October 2022.
In his concluding remarks, Brig.Gen. Balya noted that humans are in themselves threats to one another therefore Nations must come together to deal with the challenges at hand. He pointed out that global inflation is approaching 10%, especially in the energy and food sector and called upon the world to make deliberate effort to change course, terminate conflicts or pay heavy price.
Uganda and South Sudan have enjoyed a good bilateral relationship since South Sudan gained independence on July 9, 2011. Currently, Uganda is the leading guarantor in the Juba peace agreement to resolve the leadership crisis.
