SUDAN: President of Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference Applauds Signing of Peace Agreement and Formation of Government of National Unity
Signing of the Power Sharing Deal Between Transitional Military Council and Alliance for Freedom and Change Movement in Khartoum (Image Courtesy)
Rt. Rev. Edward Hiiboro Kussala, President of Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop of Tombura-Yambio Diocese in South Sudan has expressed great pleasure at the signing of power-sharing deal between the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the Alliance for Freedom and Change in Khartoum on Saturday, August 17.
Sudan has been experiencing a state of unrest since President Oman al-Bashir was ousted in April when the Transitional Military Council took over the running of the country. The main Opposition alliance under the umbrella of Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) has however been demanding for the formation of a fully civilian government. This has resulted into months of protests with thousands of demonstrators being killed during street protests.
“Our hearts went out for Sudan during the period under which the country was facing the turmoil. Actually we are still Sudanese; we share the common border; our history is intertwined; our behaviour is the same; ours is a scenario of two countries with one system,” Bishop Hiiboro explained adding that the way citizens from the two countries behave is the same, with a common language Arabic that cuts across.
South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference
“We still have thousands of refugees from South Sudan living in Sudan. Therefore, the situation really worries and concerns us. Besides, Sudan is a partner to the peace agreement in South Sudan. As the Catholic Church, we are united under one Episcopal Conference. Therefore, the conflict in Sudan really hit at home,” Bishop Hiiboro expressed in an interview with AMECEA Online News in Nairobi.
He further indicated that as helpless as South Sudanese were owing to the situation in their own country, they kept on praying that a solution might be reached.
“I thank members of the international communities especially IGAD, the African Union, who actually came closer to Sudan to help broker the peace deal, which was finally signed on Saturday. Despite the number of people who had died following the conflicts, Sudan has now established a Government of National Unity consisting of five leaders from the civilians and five leaders from the military and these two groups will work together to build towards preparing the people for the next election.”
Bishop Hiiboro expressed hope that the deal will hold and that the international communities that that supported the initiative will continue journeying with them to the end of it.
“Our conflict in South Sudan began before theirs (Sudan) but they have managed to quickly fix it through the signing of the peace deal. We are hopeful that the transitional leaders will remain committed towards working for the good of their people. It is our prayer too that that the international community shall continue standing with them until the country fully gains stability.”
Finally, Bishop Edwardo appealed that this time around, Christians who are the minority in Sudan be acknowledged and that their rights and freedom of worship be respected so that all may live in peace and harmony.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
