There Will Be No Return to War, South Sudan’s President to African Church Leaders

“President Kiir said he recognized the role AACC had played over the years in accompanying the people of South Sudan right from the struggles for liberation until the current time as an independent and sovereign nation-state,” the officials say in the report that was published November 26.

The report further recalled President Kiir’s commitment that his government would not relent in addressing the humanitarian challenges happening “because of many factors in the country.”

The AACC President Bishop Arnold Temple, alongside eminent church leaders and other personnel that include Dr Lesmore Gibson Ezekiel, the AACC Director of Peace, Diakonia and Development, Rev. Charles Berahino, AACC Executive Secretary, Peace and Diakonia, and coordinated by the General Secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches, Fr. James Oyet, led African Christian leaders.

In its mission to strengthen parties in the conflict “to embrace peace and reconciliation” and further accompany churches in the country, AACC officials acknowledged having listened keenly to the stakeholders during the visit to South Sudan.

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AACC President, Bishop Arnold Temple reportedly asked President Kiir to implement the Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Commission as part of the Transitional Justice, Accountability, Reconciliation and healing contained in chapter five of the Revitalized Agreement.

“Sure, it would be of great value, your Excellency,” the Methodist Bishop said in reference to the commission.

The Sierra Leonean Bishop emeritus issued a plea to President Kiir to resolve all the differences and build trust among themselves, the political elites of South Sudan, noting that this would filter down to the ordinary citizens.

“Trust among yourselves as politicians is critical for the healing and transformation of your beloved country,” stated Rev. Temple.

While the delegation was in South Sudan, it also met some eminent leaders of the churches that constitute the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), leadership of the civil society forum, NGOs, diplomats and the country’s representatives of the different specialized ministries working in the country.

AACC is the largest association of Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, and Methodist, among other mainstream Christian churches alongside indigenous churches in Africa, and is a member of the worldwide ecumenical network.

As a fellowship of 193 members comprising Churches, National Councils of Churches (NCCs), theological and lay training institutions, and other Christian organizations in 42 African countries, AACC is a continental ecumenical body that accounts for over 140 million Christians across Africa.