Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), through its Status of Women Initiative program, has launched a campaign titled Women Action for Peace and Dialogue (WAPD) in response to South Sudan’s ongoing political stalemate. This initiative comes at a critical time as the country struggles to transition from violence to peace under the framework of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

Despite efforts by regional and international actors to persuade leaders within the incumbent government of national unity to embrace inclusive political dialogue following the outbreak of violence in March 2025, these attempts have largely failed. Meanwhile, armed clashes among signatories to the 2028 peace agreement continue to escalate in various parts of the country.

In light of this, citizens have called on both the incumbent government and the armed opposition (SPLA-IO) to deescalate the deadly military confrontations. Encouragingly, both parties have agreed to honor these public demands.

As a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement and a witness to the citizens’ plea for peace, CEPO has initiated the Women Action for Peace and Dialogue (WAPD) campaign. WAPD is designed to empower South Sudanese women to take on influential roles in advocacy and mediation, encouraging political leaders to resolve their differences through inclusive dialogue rather than military confrontation.

The concept of WAPD was presented to UN Women South Sudan, which responded positively by awarding a $30,000 grant to support the campaign. One of the key outcomes of this funding is the formation of 21 Women Mediators drawn from diverse sectors including political parties, academia, women with disabilities, youth, media, faith-based organizations, the business community, and civil society.

These mediators will establish a movement known as South Sudan Women Mediators (SSWM), which aims to place women at the forefront of peacebuilding and mediation efforts in South Sudan. SSWM will serve as a platform for women to lead and influence the national peace process, ensuring that their voices are central to shaping a peaceful and inclusive future for the country.