Author: Lasuba Memo | Published: 6 hours ago
Pia Philip Michael, the Undersecretary ofthe Ministry of Peacebuilding speaking on Eye Radio’s Sundown Program on Monday, July 8th, 2025 – Photo Credit: Awan Moses/Eye Radio
South Sudan’s Undersecretary of Peacebuilding has called for new approaches to peacebuilding in response to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and social media, warning that these dynamics are reshaping stability, especially during elections.
Speaking on Wednesday during the launch of a Peace Hub in Central Equatoria State, Pia Philip said peacebuilders must constantly adapt to keep pace with fast-changing global trends.
“Things are changing every day because of the dynamics of AI and the dynamics of social media,” he said. “We need to be updating ourselves on stability and peacebuilding all the time because things are running very fast.”
He noted that while some countries have opted to shut down the internet during elections to prevent unrest, South Sudan must find alternative ways to maintain peace without restricting access.
“We have seen, especially during elections, that some countries switch off the internet,” Pia Philip said. “But how can we go on without switching and still have a peaceful engagement?”
The Undersecretary described the newly launched Peace Hub as a long-term initiative with the potential to grow into a regional centre for peacebuilding, drawing inspiration from Ghana’s Kofi Annan Peace Centre.
“This could be a peace hub not only for South Sudan, but for the East Africa region, to help us address issues that tend to take us down,” he said.
He called on the Central Equatoria State government to support the completion of the project, stressing the state’s critical role in national peace efforts.
“Peace can come to the Republic of South Sudan through Central Equatoria,” Pia Philip said. “You have a lot to do.”
Turning to the upcoming elections, Pia Philip warned that the process could either strengthen peace or fuel instability if mishandled. “The big elephant in the room now is the election,” he said. “Two phases of election can bring peace, and they can also bring more trouble.”
He urged political leaders, stakeholders, and citizens to embrace peaceful political engagement and help create a conducive environment for credible elections.
“Everything good can only grow on a peaceful path,” he said. “Peacebuilding is a responsibility of everybody. I must do my part, and you must do your part for us to attain a peaceful country.”
