In Jonglei’s Anyidi Payam, Anyot Yar Mach once feared her husband would never return from cattle raids. Today, thanks to RSRTF’s WFP-led programme, he farms sorghum instead. With over 30 feddans cultivated by local youth, the initiative is replacing violence with sustainable livelihoods—offering families like Anyot’s a future rooted in peace, not fear.

Once a youth steeped in South Sudan’s cycle of cattle raiding and revenge, Gabriel Kunang now walks a very different path. After losing two brothers to war, he laid down his gun and embraced peace. With support from the RSRTF, Gabriel trained in rule of law and now advocates for youth to trade weapons for pens and rebuild their futures through education and dialogue.

In one of South Sudan’s most fragile regions, the launch of the Southern Unity Area-Based Programme has sparked a wave of cautious optimism. With communities, leaders, and donors united under the RSRTF-supported initiative, a new chapter of reconciliation, resilience, and locally-driven peace is taking root.