South Sudan Delegation Holds Memorable Europe Day, Week

This year’s Europe Day Commemoration in South Sudan has been like no other. The Delegation organised and carried out a series of activities aimed at expanding its niche and general knowledge among the populace on the ideals and core values of the European Union.

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Ambassador Timo Olkkonen taking questions from the youth at the Scenius Hub. 

These activities among others included a public outreach dubbed as an Evening with Ambassador and the Youth at Scenius Hub, a guided tour of the EU-Funded Empower Project sites in Juba, the actual commemoration of the Schuman Declaration at Notos (“South” in Greek) Restaurant and a visit to the feeder roads and Nyamlel Bridge construction project in Northern Barh el Ghazal State.

This by far was the most attended Europe Day celebration, which was graced by the National Ministers of Heath, Yolanda Wel Deng, Roads and Bridges, Hon. Simon Mijok Mijak, and Livestock and Fisheries, Hon. Adigo Onyoti Nyikwac. The chairpersons of the RJMEC Amb. Charles Gituai and CTSAMVM, Lt Gen Asrat Denero, DSRSG of UNMISS Mr. Cong, European, Asian and African diplomats in the country, country representatives of UN agencies’ and Nongovernmental Organisations, media practitioners and representatives of youth led organisations also attended the reception.  

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Guests being welcomed for the Europe Day Commemoration at Notos Restaurant on May 09.

At the programme with youth, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen shared his own Finnish origin, the EU-Africa relations and the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Europe, which he said South Sudan could learn from. He also took questions and answered them from the young audience. The questions ranged from EU’s immigration policies, VISA acquisition challenges and plans to help citizens fleeing the conflict in the Sudan. This special event with the youth also included the celebration of culture, art, music, poetry and innovation with live performances from young South Sudanese musicians and poets, an art exhibition by Raila Akur and a photo Exhibition by Photographer Adam Ibrahim entitled “Stories of Resilience” about EU’s projects in the country.

The Europe Day session with the youth at Scenius Hub on May 05.

On the joint tour on Empower project sites, the delegation comprised of government officials, EU delegation Staff and implementing agencies, came face to face with beneficiaries of the skills driven project who have since graduated and secured meaningful employment. Among the beneficiaries are two female automobile mechanics, hoteliers, restaurant, printing, and photocopying small business owners, all able to support themselves and their families now.

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Aisha Abas, a beneficiary of EU's Empower Project, now gainfully employed as a mechanic.

"Although the European Union covers most policy areas, according to ambassador Olkkonen, the peace project remains its nucleus.  “If you look at European history, it is a story of wars with short periods of peace in between ever since the fall of the Roman Empire. European integration put an end to fighting between countries and ethnicities that had been at each other’s throats for a good part of 1500 years. It was not for nothing that in 2012, the EU was granted the Nobel peace prize,” he said to a round of applause from the audience.

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Guests listening to Ambassador Timo Olkkonen's speech at the Europe Day Reception.

“Tragically the demons unleashed by coal and steel have returned to Europe. Russia’s brutal, unprovoked, unlawful and unjustified attack on the independent nation of Ukraine have now for more than a year brought to our cell phones, laptops and televisions, the very same images of industrial scale warfare, levelled cities, death and destruction we thought belonged only to Europe’s past.”

Ambassador Olkkonen vehemently appealed to the Juba government to commit to the peace agreement to spur economic growth.

“You cannot separate peace and development. One requires the other, but peace and rule of law are needed first. We need to start creating a credible vision on how we move towards stability and away from aid dependency to a situation where social services are provided domestically,” he said.

The Head of Delegation also applauded the South Sudan government for its solidarity in keeping its borders open for returnees and refugees fleeing the current armed conflict in Sudan.

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Ambassador Timo Olkkonen and Chief Guest, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Adigo Onyoti at the Europe Day Reception.

In the spirit of Team Europe week, while in Northern Barh el Ghazal State, Ambassador Olkkonen, his Dutch counterpart, Therese Marjan Schippers, National Ministers of Roads and Bridges, and Transport Hon. Simon Mijok Mijak and Hon. Madut Biar, met with state officials led by Governor Hon. Tong Akeen Ngor. They together travelled to Nyamlel, met community members and cut ribbons to celebrate the construction of the life and time saving bridge and feeder roads.

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The Ambassador Timo Olkkonen led Delegation being welcomed at Aweil Airfield on May 10.

“We are very proud of the impact that the bridge and the feeder roads being built under this project will have on the livelihoods and well-being of the beneficiary communities,” he said. “We remain committed to supporting vulnerable South Sudanese communities on their path to development and continue to develop our partnership with UNOPS and with the national and state government."

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Nyamlel Bridge in Northern Barh el Ghazal State commissioned on May 10.

The EU funds the construction of the Nyamlel bridge and feeder roads, a project implemented by UNOPS.

All these activities to commemorate this year’s Europe Day will remain in our hearts and minds for years to come.