AMECEA: A STATEMENT FROM AMECEA ON THE CURRENT CRISIS IN SOUTH SUDAN
HEARD THEIR CRY” (Exodus 3:7): An Appeal for Immediate Cessation of
Hostilities and a Rediscovery of the sense of Nationhood in South Sudan
STATEMENT OF ASSOCIATION OF MEMBER
EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES IN EASTERN AFRICA ON THE CURRENT CRISIS IN SOUTH SUDAN
the Catholic leaders in the Eastern Africa Region, under the umbrella body of
the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, AMECEA,
(with membership of the national Episcopal Conferences of: Ethiopia, Eritrea,
Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), have listened
and watched with a lot of pain and grief the current happenings in the young nation
of South Sudan. We wish to condole with all those families who have lost their
loved ones in the current crisis. We pray for the repose of the souls of those
who have lost their lives. Our prayers are also very close to those who have
been injured, displaced and lost their properties.
Inspired
by the words that Almighty God used when He addressed Moses after seeing the
afflictions of the Israelites, and conscious of our mandate as religious
leaders, we wish to express our solidarity with the people of South Sudan and speak
to all those who are involved in any way in the current situation by using
these words of St. Paul: “We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as
though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s
name is…” (2 Cor. 5:20): let
there be an immediate cessation of hostilities and let the people of South
Sudan rediscover the sense of nationhood.
As
we make this appeal, we must appreciate a number of historical facts that are
in the hearts of the people of South Sudan.
1. That the South Sudanese are a people whose history has
been marked with a long protracted struggle for independence that lasted for
nearly sixty years. During these dark years, virtues like courage, perseverance
and endurance were witnessed among the South Sudanese. However, we also
acknowledge that the liberation wars left wounds and scars that may not have
been fully healed.
2. Throughout the liberation struggles the South Sudanese
were united in fighting for the liberation of a nation, not just for their tribes
or ethnic groupings. This unity is a core value that should ring in the minds
of all the people of South Sudan and especially the warring parties in the
on-going political conflict. Indeed South Sudan is bigger than any individual
or any ethnic grouping.
3. It should also be reemphasized that the struggle
involved the South Sudanese as a people. Hence the liberation and independence
of South Sudan should never be looked at as solely military success! It is the
South Sudanese as a people who were fighting for liberation. It therefore means
that every effort should be made to avoid the militarization of the management
and day to day running of the affairs of South Sudan. At this critical time
especially, it is important to involve all stakeholders in the peace talks that
are aimed at finding a lasting solution to the current crisis.
4. It is also of paramount importance to recall here
that, in the struggles of the people of South Sudan for their independence, the
Church played a very crucial role. We specifically refer to the contribution of
the Church in bringing about reconciliation between different factions within
the SPLM/A. The Church also contributed a lot in provision of essential
services and putting up structures for such services. As it stands all these
facilities risk destruction.
5. With gratitude to God, we appreciate the fact that
South Sudan is predominantly Christian; hence the common bond of baptism should
create a sense of true brotherhood and help the South Sudanese to desist from
negative ethnicity and tribalism. In this spirit of brotherhood, we admire the
strong ecumenical bond that has existed between the different churches in South
Sudan. It is in the unity of the prophetic voice of the Church leaders that the
people were inspired to find their identity as one united people of South
Sudan. We liken this prophetic role of the church leaders to the role Moses
played in the struggles that the people went through. This spiritual
accompaniment of any nation is so important that whenever it is overlooked
things are never the same. We therefore ask the people of South Sudan a few
questions: Where is that prophetic voice? Where is the role of religious
leaders in the current peace talks and negotiations? Since the voice of the
Church is the voice of God, can the warring parties and all the people of South
Sudan hearken to this voice which is clear: God wants peace for His people,
no more hostilities and bloodshed! And again, God says: “Depart
from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:14).
6.
With
the inauguration of South Sudan as the youngest nation in the world and the
celebrations that marked its independence in July 2011, there was jubilation
and hope. These celebrations offered a greater challenge and responsibility
towards nation building. Indeed after attaining their independence, the South
Sudanese embarked on a common journey as one nation and one people united by a
common destiny and hope regardless of their diverse backgrounds.
Our Anguish
fulfilling our mandate as religious leaders in Eastern Africa, we have always
prayed to Almighty God that South Sudan which is part of the membership of our
Association becomes a cradle of peace, unity and prosperity. Above all our
prayer is that South Sudan remains a God fearing nation. As we learned of the
sad and painful events that started on 15th December 2013, we felt sorry for
the people of South Sudan. We are deeply aggrieved to watch the violence, the
killings, displacements and other injustices that are reported! We are
concerned with the fact that what started as a political crisis is quickly
turning into an ethnic crisis.
We
have read statements from Church leaders in South Sudan – we feel with them and
join them in their sorrow; we join hands with them in the struggle to give
concrete humanitarian assistance to many of the displaced people who have
flocked to church premises seeking refuge. We acknowledge and appreciate all
the organizations which have already partnered with the local Church in South
Sudan in offering humanitarian assistance to those who have been hit hard by
the current crisis.
Now
it is more than a month since this crisis started! While appreciating the
efforts being made by the regional stakeholders and the wider international
community in bringing peace, we are saddened by the slow pace which the peace
talks in Addis Ababa are taking. We are further saddened by the fact that the
warring parties are still holding firm to their conditions. In all these we
urge the parties concerned to realise one bitter fact: innocent people are
being killed, people are being displaced, the rights of the people are being
abused, property is being destroyed; South Sudan is bleeding! All these have a
bearing on the social, economic, political and religious spheres of South
Sudan.
Our Appeal
Sudan we appeal for immediate and
unconditional cessation of all hostilities in the entire country of South
Sudan. We believe in the fact that peace is a value that all must seek and a
universal duty founded on a rational moral order of society.
2.
We
also appeal to the concerned parties, the regional stakeholders and the
international community to ensure that corridors
for humanitarian access to the displaced populations are opened and security
provided for those offering emergency services. Let the international community
know that there is a moral obligation to intervene on behalf of the many people
in South Sudan whose very survival is threatened and whose basic human rights
are seriously violated. This situation demands for an immediate response.
3.
We
appeal for the expansion of the table of
negotiations. It is our belief that this process should not be politicised.
Rather, all the stakeholders should be involved so that the underlying issues
to the South Sudan crisis can be addressed for a lasting peace.
4.
We
appeal to the warring parties in the
current crisis and all the politicians to soften their positions in the
interest of saving lives. We strongly advocate for the protection of the
right to life and the dignity of the human person. Human life is sacred and
therefore no one has the right to take it (Ex. 20:13). As Church leaders, we
believe that true peace can only be made
possible through dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation. At the same time
we are aware that these three do not eliminate the need for justice and as well
they do not block the path to truth. Hence we encourage that the solution to
the crisis should also lead to a roadmap that will bring about truth and
justice and healing in South Sudan.
5.
We
urge the nations of the world to support the initiative of Caritas Internationalis and all other organizations involved in
providing humanitarian and relief services.
6.
Finally,
we urge all Christians around the world to pray for a lasting solution to the
crisis in South Sudan and the fruit of lasting peace and unity in South Sudan.
Conclusion
the Catholic Church leaders in Eastern Africa, make this statement as a sign of
solidarity with the people of South Sudan. We urge all people who are involved
in the current crisis to listen to this message. Let all remember that true
peace is a gift from God.
We
entrust the people of South Sudan to the intercession of Mary, Our Lady Queen
of Peace and Queen of Africa.
2014
SOURCE: AMECEA Social Communications Office
