Internally Displaced Persons who fled Adidiang. (Photo: UNMISS).

On International Day of Happiness, a religious leader in Western Equatoria State says South Sudanese are not happy citing sub-national violence, road ambushes, and economic hardship.  

In 2013, the UN General Assembly, during its resolution 66/281 proclaimed March 20^th, as the International Day of Happiness.

In an interview with Eye Radio, the Reverend Tito Taban of Nzumura Archdeaconry, Episcopal Church of South Sudan said there is nothing much to make South Sudanese happy.

“There is no happiness because if you turn on the Radio, you will listen to five people died, stealing of things, road ambush, people are staying six months, five months no salary and no food; Where can happiness come from?”, he said.

Reverend Taban further called on South Sudanese leaders to provide basic services such as infrastructural development, healthcare, and education for the citizens to be happy.

Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of happiness as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in people’s lives around the world.

The United Nations General Assembly recognizes this goal and calls for “a more inclusive, equitable, and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.”

It also calls for a more inclusive, equitable, and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness, and the well-being of all peoples.

The global theme for this year’s International Day of Happiness is “Be Mindful, Be Grateful, Be Kind.”

For the sixth year in a row, Finland is the world’s happiest country, according to World Happiness Report rankings based largely on life evaluations from the Gallup World Poll.

The Nordic country and its neighbors Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway all score very well on the measures the report uses to explain its findings; which is a healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, low corruption, generosity in a community where people look after each other and freedom to make key life decisions.

At the very bottom of the list is Afghanistan at No. 137 and Lebanon which ranking one mark above at No. 136 among others.

Average life evaluations in these countries are more than five points lower (on a scale from 0 to 10) than in the 10 happiest countries.

However, there were no data about South Sudan in the report.