South Sudanese women peace activists are calling for appointment of a special gender advisor to the IGAD mediation team in Addis Ababa.

They say she would advise IGAD mediators and negotiators at the peace talks to incorporate the views of women and children in any agreement.

Tabu Sunday Ben is a representative of Women’s Monthly Forum for Peace.

“If peace agreement is not signed and enhanced by all parties, men, children, women, all of us will continue to suffer all the consequences,” said Ms Sunday.

‘Tired of burying our children’

“We are tired as mothers of this nation. We are tired of burying our children. Women are victims of this war. We lost our children, we are the victims of sexual assaults. We have lost our husbands, our fathers, our sons, our mothers and our daughters. It is time to end this war now.”

She was speaking at a meeting of civil society activists with religious leaders and diplomats in Juba yesterday.

Ms Tabu also urged President Salva Kiir Dr. Riek Machar to respect all the previous agreements, including the Cessation of Hostilities.

“We are calling on our two sons [President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar] to come back to the negotiating table and come with peace,” she added.