Ukraine: EU Delegation Screens the “Porcelain War” film in Juba

On 23 February, the European Union Delegation organised the screening of the Ukrainian film “Porcelain War” at the University of Juba's UNIPOD building to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This award-winning documentary plays a crucial role in marking the 4 anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, offering a first-hand artistic perspective on the conflict and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. It captures the defiance and creativity of Ukrainian artists who choose to fight with weapons and art, preserving their culture amidst chaos and destruction.

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Following the screening, the audience, including EU Ambassador Pelle Enarsson, UK Ambassador David Ashley, Dutch Ambassador Paul Tholen, RJMEC Interim Chair George Owino and Vice Chancellor Prof. John Akec among others, reflected on the film and the enormous human costs caused by war. The discussion concluded that dialogue, not war, was the answer to conflict and political disagreements. 

“People in Ukraine cannot wait for peace. We chose this film because we felt that the theme of resilience in the face of war would resonate here in South Sudan. You, the people of South Sudan, have experienced war and violence, and many of you can relate to the situation in Ukraine,” Ambassador Enarsson said. 

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“We must sit down together and convince ourselves that war is the worst thing that can happen to humanity,” interim RJMEC Chair Owino weighed in. 

Representing journalists, the Secretary General of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan, Daniel Majak Alier, emphasised the importance of indigenous reporters being supported to document events in the conflict-ridden new nation.

In response to this plea, Ambassadors Ashley, Enarsson and Tholen expressed willing-ness to support these efforts collectively. 

Noting that war has many faces Vice-chancellor Prof. Akech recalled the economic hard-ship millions of South Sudanese go through, unpaid, trying to make ends meet. 

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24 February marks exactly four years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This conflict has claimed countless lives, displaced millions of people and destroyed critical infrastructure. The war has also significantly contributed to global price increases, particularly for cereals, as Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of grains. 

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