SOUTH SUDAN: JPC, AMECEA Kick-off Civic Education on Peaceful Elections and Democratic Participation in South Sudan
Workshop carried my Justice and Peace with Support from AMECEA
Ginaba Lino
The Office of Justice and Peace in the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSCBC) with support from the Association Member Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) have started civic education on peaceful election in view of South Sudan’s 2026 General elections.
A two-day civic education on Peace and Democratic Participation in the proposed first General Elections in South Sudan supported by the Department of Integral Human Development at AMECEA brought together 18 participants in Bentiu Diocese.
The workshop aimed empowering participants from across the Dioceses of South Sudan to promote peace and exercise their democratic rights in the proposed general election for next year.
In closing remarks, the Local Ordinary of Bentiu Diocese Bishop Christian Carlassare appreciated the Justice and Peace Coordination office at the Bishops’ conference for starting the workshop in his Diocese, adding that South Sudan Catholic Churches should open hands to work towards peace despite the financial challenges they face.
Bishop Carlassare stated that there is need for justice and peace at the Conference and for the people in the dioceses to volunteer to strength their activities with better project proposals for funding.
Carlassare emphasized that people should stop thinking that the election is still far because the government extended the transitional period. Instead, they must start preparations for the upcoming elections.
“The time we have is not a time to remain idol. For now the Government of National Unity has been extended, but it does not mean that because we have government for the next two years, therefore we don’t need to do civic education. No, we must prepare for the elections because democracy is not only expressed on the day we go to vote, but it’s the whole process including the preparations for elections.”
Bishop Christian continued, “What I want to say is that sometime, it is not very important on who worn the elections, but what is important is all the processes in which the citizens can participate their opinion and participate to the lives of the Country.”
We have to start promoting Justice and Peace within our Society and our community and set a side who will be the next president or the next governor, “Bishop emphasized.”
The Italian-born Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ), who was ordained a Priest in September 2004 and commissioned to South Sudan continues, “As Church, we are not only concerned about the wellbeing or the political arena in our country, but the promotion of justice and peace within our society and our community.”
Bishop Christian thanks Bishops’ Conference for appointing Fr. John Opi to the important office which have empty for a while.
He added, “Thanks also to Fr. John Opi for starting this training with the people of Bentiu because we need peace we hope this training your office have started will strengthen our ability to good and understand the process to the elections.
On 20 August 2024, the department of Integral Human Development at AMECEA Organized a four-day training for the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), coordinators for the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSSCBC) to be Training of Trainers (ToT) on civic education prior to the upcoming General Elections for the country reminded that the training is preparation to understand the process of elections.
The project aims at equipping the JPC Coordinators from all the dioceses on civic education and observer mission to enhance democratic participation and integrity.
On the conclusion of the training in August, AMECEA expressed its commitment to support Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference through the office of Justice and Peace Coordinator to carry the training to all the Dioceses.
This week, the Justice and Peace Commission Coordinator at Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference Rev. Fr. John Opi has started the training with the Diocese of Bentiu.
According to Fr. Opi, this training is carried according to the project which was drafted during the TOT program which took place in August in Juba. The training will continue with in all the Diocese in South Sudan.
