One of the signs that a network is effective, is an active network. Testament to this is the recent open letter to African heads of state and social media campaign about South Sudan, which was started by Fellows over coffee. The campaign aims to pressure various parties to acknowledge the human right violations, displacement crisis, and chaos in South Sudan due to factionalism within the governance structures of that young country. While the initiative stems from collaborative efforts between various Fellows, it underscored the ability of the AFLI network to drive initiatives providing solutions for the continent.
Although the #TalkSouthSudan initiative had been a project respective individual Fellows had been working on for a while, on Africa Day it gained momentum and received the attention it needed, with print and online news media circulation, and social media engagement. In a letter addressed to regional leaders, Archbishop Tutu Fellows appealed for the South Sudan peace agreement to be rescued and highlighted the need for African leaders to be accountable to one another. It also called on them to follow through on accords they had signed. Highlighted in the letter is the August 2015 Peace Agreement signed by the President South Sudan. It is a promise of a ceasefire and ensuring that the people of South Sudan have access to their array of rights. While the South Sudanese government has failed to implement what it signed, the open letter emphasized that the treaty can be effected through collaboration.
The #TalkSouthSudan campaign remains pivotal in the global conversation around the immigration crisis, and the role Africans play to alleviate the human suffering prompting migration through putting pressure on various stakeholders. The pressure and attention brought about by the Tutu Fellows is a helpful reminder of ways in which ethical servant leadership can be used for the greater good of the continent.
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