The Voices of South Sudan’s Women

Through Art and Literature, South Sudanese Women Explore Life Amid War and a Path Towards Peace

In recent years, South Sudanese women have made significant strides in their push for inclusion in national peace processes. Women negotiators were crucial in shaping the 2018 peace agreement—revitalizing what had been a stalled and contentious process—and also secured a new quota that requires 35 percent of government representatives to be women, opening the door for a more expansive role in national affairs. But despite these signs of progress, women’s voices remain conspicuously absent among publicly written narratives of South Sudan, which continue to be dominated by the opinions, analysis, and stories of male writers.

“No Time to Mourn” is an anthology featuring short stories, memoirs, poems, artwork, and photography from 39 women living in South Sudan and across the diaspora. Their literary and artistic expressions provide deeply personal insights into the experiences of South Sudanese women, particularly in relation to conflict, displacement, and patriarchal gender norms. The authors and artists, through words and images, offer a clear vision of the way forward for South Sudan and exemplify the African Union’s theme for the year 2021: “Arts, Culture, and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.”

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, USIP, Oxfam International, and FEMRITE—the Ugandan Women Writers Association—hosted a discussion about how women’s literary voices can contribute to building a deeper understanding of the impact of conflict in South Sudan and inspire progress towards peace.

Speakers:

Rita Lopidia

Executive Director, EVE Organization for Women Development; 2020 Women Building Peace Award Recipient, U.S. Institute of Peace

Nyachangkuoth Rambang Tai

Special Assistant, Chairperson Advisor to the African Union; Youth Country Liaison, South Sudan, U.S. Institute of Peace

Susan Stigant

Director, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

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The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to help their countries solve their own problems peacefully. The Institute provides expertise, training, analysis, and support to those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.