South Sudan President Pleads with Church Leaders to be Vocal about “peace accord” document

With some reports indicating that Dr. Machar does not plan to return to Juba until his conditions around security arrangements and state boundaries are met and President Kiir threatening to proceed with the formation of a government without Dr. Machar, the fear that the oil-rich East African country could slide back to violence seems justifiable.

The September 2018 R-ARCSS document is significant because according to a recent International Crisis Group report, “Since the September 2018 peace deal, the parties have largely stopped fighting and people can move more freely between towns and fields near front lines.”

Aware of the Dr. Machar’s demand for yet another extension of the deadline for a unity government, President Kiir told Church leaders at the climax of Juba Archdiocesan centenary celebrations, “I am calling you again so that you can raise your voices especially now that Dr. Riek Machar is calling for another extension of the pre-transitional period.”

The President of the predominantly Christian South Sudan and himself Catholic acknowledged the efforts Church leaders in his country have been making to advocate for lasting peace and described the Church as “an effective institution with the voice that is highly honored and respected by the people.”

Catholic leaders in South Sudan have expressed preference for an inclusive government.

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In their October 18 message, the Bishops and heads of dioceses in South Sudan expressed their desire for the realization of a unity government “only when essential preconditions have been met, and only when it is truly inclusive, including non-signatories to the (Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in of South Sudan) R-ARCSS.”

In his address to the congregation at the centenary celebrations, President expressed regrets over the past years of his leadership saying, “The people of South Sudan have made very serious mistakes as Christians and as leaders including myself especially after achieving their freedom and independence.”

He appealed, “Let us forget the past and forgive each other as Christians and as leaders of one country to better serve our people.”

“As the president of this country, I am ready to engage and commit to declare peace,” President Kiir emphasized amid cheers from the congregation consisting clergy and religious from Sudan and South Sudan and laity in their thousands including the current vice-president Dr. James Wani Igga, state governors, national ministers, commissioners among other senior government officials.

“Let us cooperate between the Church and the government,” President Kiir concluded, expressing his “commitment to (returning) South Sudan to peace, unity, socioeconomic, prosperity, and development.”

 Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako presided over the Eucharistic celebration to conclude the 12-month celebrations of the sharing of Catholic faith in Juba Archdiocese whose theme was “Renewing our faith and responding to its challenges.”

Peter Mapuor Makur, ACI Africa South Sudan Correspondent, contributed to this story.

Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla is ACI Africa’s founding Editor-in-Chief. He was formed in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans), and later incardinated in Rumbek Diocese, South Sudan. He has a PhD in Media Studies from Daystar University in Kenya, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from Marist College, New York, USA.