Dr. Daisaku Higashi, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Cooperation, Center for Global Education and Discovery at Sophia Institute of International Relations during the talk show - Credit: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio, March 14, 2023

A Japanese scholar is encouraging South Sudan media to facilitate discussions on the constitution-making process and the upcoming general elections, saying media can play a role that is crucial in consolidating peace in the country.

Dr. Daisaku Higashi, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Cooperation, Center for Global Education and Discovery at Sophia Institute of International Relations, emphasizes on inclusive political engagements in the processes through the media.

As a former Program Director for Japanese Public Broadcaster, Dr. Higashi says despite the political competition, the media can facilitate dialogue among political leaders.

This, he says, can give assurances to the public that the leaders will not fight.

“You need to have those kinds of political processes like constitution-making and conducting of elections. This is another thing you might want to facilitate, dialogue between leadership, and political leaders,” Dr. Higashi made the statements during Eye Radio’s Sundown Program

“One of the most important factors in making the peace building successful, is having a kind of inclusive political process and if you have some system, a policy to exclude some specific political groups in the process of peace building, that results into conflicts,

“Media might be able to play a role to facilitate dialogue among the political leaders in the different groups so that even though they might have some political competitions, they can continue to have some discussions, communications and they can give some strong voice, a commitment to the people that they will not fight”. 

Dr. Higashi added that gathering of information from the conflict affected people will give the correct understanding of the conflict situation and may influence leaders into committing to peace.

Dr. Higashi will have a lecture on peace building at Juba University on Thursday March 16, 2023, from 9 am to 10:30am.