From War to Law: South Sudan Parliament Officially Adopts Resolution Supporting HWPL’s DPCW

Can a nation deeply scarred by civil war find a permanent blueprint for peace through international law?

On September 15, 2025, a historic milestone unfolded in Juba. The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) of South Sudan officially adopted Resolution No. 29/2025, formally supporting the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) drafted by HWPL.

This pivotal legislative decision follows earlier endorsements from South Sudan’s judiciary a decade ago and President Salva Kiir Mayardit in 2024—meaning all three branches of government (Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature) are now united in institutionalizing the values of peace.

What Does Resolution No. 29/2025 Contain?

The resolution marks a concrete step toward transforming South Sudan's legal and civic framework by:

• Recognizing the DPCW: Officially acknowledging the DPCW as an international framework for peace and supporting its adoption as a UN General Assembly resolution.

• Redirecting Resources: Recommending that public and military resources be allocated toward peaceful, sustainable goals—such as human rights, education, and healthcare.

• Embedding Peace Education: Integrating peace, human rights, and youth-led peacebuilding programs into public education and civic policy.

The Leaders Behind the Breakthrough

This landmark adoption was spearheaded by leaders whose personal histories are deeply interwoven with South Sudan's search for peace:

• Jemma Nunu Kumba (Former Speaker of Parliament): Having experienced life as a refugee in 1991, Kumba recognized that peace agreements alone cannot sustain stability without continuous civic tools like the DPCW.

• Bona Deng Lawrence (Chairperson of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee): Carrying forward his father's peacebuilding legacy from the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, Lawrence championed the DPCW within parliament, emphasizing Article 10, Clause 38, which places human dignity at its core.

"Our country’s history has been one of war and suffering. We have tried war enough, and it only destroyed our generation. Now, it is time to try peace."

— Bona Deng Lawrence

 

A Complementary Tool for National Healing

While South Sudan signed peace agreements in 2018, many citizens felt their implementation remained incomplete. The adoption of the DPCW resolution offers a crucial, complementary structure—reassuring the public and reinforcing the nation’s commitment to sustainable reconciliation.

Source: https://vo.la/eAb02VK