{"id":92043,"date":"2026-04-17T14:31:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T14:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-sudan\/all-news\/from-the-front-lines-to-parliament-honoring-women"},"modified":"2026-04-17T14:58:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T14:58:51","slug":"from-the-front-lines-to-parliament-honoring-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-sudan\/all-news\/from-the-front-lines-to-parliament-honoring-women","title":{"rendered":"From the Front Lines to Parliament Honoring Women"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600\"><strong>Africa-Press &#8211; South-Sudan. <\/strong><\/span>In an exclusive interview, Hon. Rebecca Joshua Okwaci\u2014current Member of Parliament, former SPLM Chief Whip, and the legendary \u201cvoice of the liberation struggle\u201d on SPLA Radio\u2014reflected on the historical and evolving role of women in the nation. From the political pioneers of the 1960s to the \u201cfoster mothers\u201d of the liberation struggle, Okwaci paints a picture of a nation built on the resilience and bravery of its women.<\/p>\n<p>The Pioneers: Walking in the Footsteps of Giants<\/p>\n<p>Speaking during the \u201cAmplifying Voices of Women and Girls\u201d program on Thursday, April 16, Hon. Okwaci emphasises that women\u2019s leadership in South Sudan did not begin in a vacuum. She points to icons like Victoria Yar and Maria Saverio as the foundation upon which today\u2019s female leaders stand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe consider [Victoria Yar] a role model. I heard that she was the first woman to enter the university and graduate, and she was a member of parliament. She was brave&#8230; she speaks well-organised and logical words, and she also has a result in terms of legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Okwaci recalled how her own father encouraged his daughters to emulate Yar\u2019s \u201cloud voice\u201d and service to the people, noting that women in the 1960s and 70s were already shaping the political landscape.<\/p>\n<p>The Liberation Era: Ammunition and Caretaking<\/p>\n<p>During the era of the SPLA, the role of women shifted from the halls of parliament to the harsh realities of the front line. Okwaci describes a dual role where women were both caregivers and active participants in the machinery of war.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe participated in all areas of liberation, including the front line and the army. Women were in charge of the sick and the families; they were carrying ammunition on their heads to go to the front line and making food for the fighters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also highlighted the crucial role of \u201cfoster mothers\u201d in refugee camps like Itang and Fenyodou, who cared for the young children of the \u201cRed Army,\u201d ensuring they were protected and educated.<\/p>\n<p>The Fight for Representation: The 25% Quota<\/p>\n<p>The interview shed light on the intense advocacy that led to the formal recognition of women in governance. The \u201cvoice of women,\u201d according to Okwaci, was a persistent force that pressed the leadership during the struggle to ensure they were not sidelined.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is why we increased the number of women who participated in the struggle&#8230; This was the voice of women, and it was pressing on the leadership at that time. And we were able to find 25% of women [participation].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From Peace to Development: \u201cDoes Peace Eat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As the nation transitioned from conflict to peace, Hon. Okwaci and her colleagues realized that rhetoric was not enough. They shifted their focus toward \u201cSudanese Women Action for Development\u201d to provide tangible skills to the community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe didn\u2019t just say \u2018peace, peace.\u2019 Because society asks you, \u2018Does This Peace Eat?\u2019 That\u2019s why we brought Women\u2019s Development. We did training for women, we brought in the youth, and we also brought in the traditional leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Legacy of Modesty and Strength<\/p>\n<p>Hon. Okwaci, also a pioneer in the media, noted that the female voice \u201cwas the loudest in the world\u201d during the struggle for independence. Whether it was the high-ranking Commander Ager Gum or the teachers in the Telul in Itang Refugee Camp in Ethiopia, women have been the backbone of South Sudanese identity.<\/p>\n<p>As the government continues to evolve, Hon. Okwaci remains a witness to the journey, reminding the nation that women didn\u2019t just join the story of South Sudan\u2014they wrote it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For More News And Analysis About <span style=\"color: #ff6600\">South-Sudan<\/span> Follow <span style=\"color: #ff6600\">Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Africa-Press &#8211; South-Sudan. In an exclusive interview, Hon. Rebecca Joshua Okwaci\u2014current Member of Parliament, former SPLM Chief Whip, and the legendary \u201cvoice of the liberation struggle\u201d on SPLA Radio\u2014reflected on the historical and evolving role of women in the nation. From the political pioneers of the 1960s to the \u201cfoster mothers\u201d of the liberation struggle, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":92042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,12],"tags":[233],"class_list":["post-92043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","category-policy","tag-south-sudan"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.1 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>From the Front Lines to Parliament Honoring Women - South Sudan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In an exclusive interview, Hon. 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