SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN: Inter-faith Council Concerned of Violence in Sudan, Call On Political Leaders to Join Hands, Promote Peace

Sr. Henriette Anne FSSA

Faith groups in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State (WES) have expressed concerns over the escalating violence in the region stating that as a country they have a history of war and no responsible leader should beat the drums of war, calling on them to “rise above the politics of hate and division and join hands for peaceful coexistence and promotion of life”.

In their letter dated Thursday, April 27^th, 2023, signed by leaders of the Inter-Faith Council for Peace Initiative including the Council Chairperson, Bishop Hiiboro Kussala of South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Tombura -Yambio, the leaders lamented over the “incitement of one tribe against another and instigation of one community against another”.

“Of recent, one cannot but be saddened by the unbelievable amount of harsh speeches and utterances that are in circulation and fed into the ears and sprayed into the air for consumption. This aggravates the already existing tensions and fractures that we have observed in our communities over the years. All these are intimations that we live in an atmosphere of anger, bitterness, violence, hate, war, displacements, loss of property, and psychological imbalances. We have observed that there is incitement of one tribe against another and instigation of one community against another. It is very irresponsible for leaders to utter threats of violence and war.”

They added, “it is the responsibility of every citizen to consolidate the relative peace that we enjoy in WES and safeguard it with all zealousness.”

The Inter-faith Council for Peace Initiative in WES has urged the citizens to be on guard against the infiltration of foreign influence and elements that can implicate, divide and destabilize WES.

“We should be on guard against the infiltration of foreign influence and elements that can implicate, divide and destabilize WES. The presence of the Ambororo and Seleka in WES is a national security threat that needs to be addressed while taking into account the interest and well-being of our communities and the national integrity of the Republic of South Sudan”.

The religious leaders noted that they are concerned with the insecurity in Rii-Yubu Payam caused by the conflicts on the border of South Sudan with the Central African Republic which has brought the three years long preparation for the centenary celebration to a halt.

The Inter-Faith Council for Peace Initiative leaders has further called upon all believers to speak the words of peace, to exude peace in their attitudes, and cultivate peace in every word they utter, stressing that “peace is the language of God to all believers and followers of all religions and Faith”.

They appealed to the WES leaders to desist from using harmful words and use words that build their communities, words that build bridges, words that reconcile and create relationships.

“as leaders, it is your responsibility to work for peace, for without peace, we cannot attain the development and prosperity that we all desire in WES. Our society needs peace, and peace will only be realized by consciously working for it and cultivating it. Hate Speech, defamation, character assassination can never be ingredients of peace”.

The leaders also appealed to the National Government to come closer and form an independent commission of credible persons to listen to the communities of WES and come out with the results of the investigation that will be made public.

To the International Communities, UN agencies, and Non-Governmental Originations, the religious leaders have appealed in a special way to those tasked with monitoring and assisting in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement to intensify their collaboration and support for peace initiatives in WES and the Republic of South Sudan at large.

“We appeal to all our believers and people of goodwill to do all it takes to ensure peace prevails and takes root in South Sudan. Above all, we urge our faithful to persevere in prayer. Pray! Pray! Pray for Peace”.