Church leaders in South Sudan have expressed concerns over failure by regional leaders to include them in peace talks aimed at ending weeks of violence in the new nation. 

The leaders, in a joint statement issued last Thursday expressed concern on why they were excluded from the process to talk peace, despite the advocacy roles they often play in the country.

“We are critical of the exclusion of the Churches and other civic forces from the peace talks in Addis Ababa, not for the first time; they were excluded from the IGAD [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development] talks which led to the CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement] in 2005, despite the leading role the Churches had played in advocacy and working for peace,” partly reads their joint statement.

“Why are Church and civic leaders...excluded from the ongoing IGAD talks? Why is it that only those who took up arms are discussing the future of our country? What is the legitimacy of any agreement signed in Addis Ababa built on military groups determining our future?” adds the statment.

In recent years, however, the church has been instrumental in South Sudan’s peace and reconciliation efforts, with its tops leaders currently leading the Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation.

A ceasefire deal, for instance, was last week achieved between South Sudan government and rebel leader David Yauyau from Jonglei state, with the church actively involved in the peace process.

The church leaders also questioned why the negotiations on the country’s future were entrusted in to the hands of political leaders who instigated crisis which has devastated the country.

“The message of peace is not about a negotiated settlement, but rather the conviction that the unity brought by the spirit can harmonize every diversity,” they said.

CALLS FOR REFORM

At the same time, the head of churches called for “urgent” reforms within the country’s organised forces, especially the national army and police.

“Our army has grown in size since the signing of the CPA and has become a significant cost to our nation, at the expense of investment in development priorities. It lacks cohesion. We are conscious of the need to address reconciliation within the armed forces themselves. There is no longer any place for personal militias,” their statement further reads.

“We believe our armed forces need urgent support and pastoral care. We also feel that our national army needs a new name, not associated with a single political party. A professional army should never be involved in politics,” it added.

Decrying the manner in which the youth were manipulated into the army, the Church leaders called upon all armed groups, whether government or opposition, whether formal or informal, to respect international norms for armed conflict. Such aspects, they argued, should include respect for and protection of civilians, dignified treatment of prisoners of war, and refraining from extra-judicial killings.

“We insist on respect for institutions such as hospitals, churches and places where displaced civilians shelter,” they jointly advocated.

The violence, which broke out in the capital, Juba in mid-December last year led to 10,000 deaths, according to the International Crisis Group. Also, the United Nations estimates that 740,000 people have since been displaced.

Source: Sudan Tribune with minor edits from TCT

A UN peacekeeping compound in Akobo in Jonglei State, some few miles from South Sudan border with Ethiopia, was attacked on Thursday late afternoon. In a press conference addressed by Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, he reported that the base in Akobo, Jonglei State and lives were lost. “We don't have the details of that yet," Eliasson told reporters. According to the Jerusalem Post, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said that the situation in Jonglei had deteriorated. "In Akobo, earlier today, where civilians have gathered, including 32 as of last night, Lou Nuer youth have reportedly forced an entry into the UNMISS Temporary Operating Base to reach to those civilians." "The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) will try to extract unarmed UN personnel from Akobo, while reinforcing the base in Akobo with additional 60 troops from Malakal tomorrow," Haq added. People fear for their safety in Jonglei State. Those taking shelter in the UN Compound in Bor have expressed fear, calling for prayers and maximum security protection. "We hear gunshots and bullets firing over the compound as fired by the defectors controlling Bor town. We feel threatened and concerned about our safety" said one of the displaced persons in the UN Compound, who sought to remain anonymous. The Anglican Bishop of Bor, Ruben Akurdid is calling for prayers and urges all to join efforts to stop the conflict from spreading.

Vice president Dr. Riek Machar has urged the people of South Sudan to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation during national prayers for the nation.

Addressing the gathering during prayers organized by South Sudan's Committee of National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation, the vice president said the occasion is a very important one and urged the people to cooperate with the national committee as it carries out the process of healing, urging them to turn up for any call by the committee spread the message of forgiveness and reconciliation to others.

Also present at the occasion was state deputy governor Manash Lomole, and Christians from various denominations as well as representatives from the Muslim community.

Chairperson of the commission Archbishop Dr. Daniel Deng Bul called for the support from all South Sudanese.

Justice denied

Deputy governor of Central Equatoria state Manasseh Lomole admitted that the nation is suffering due to the sins that both leaders and the citizens have committed.

He said that the use of witchcraft to maintain positions of power, betrayal and delaying of  justice in courts are some of the sins that we must confess to God so that healing can prevail in the country.

“Who does not want this country to be healed?” he asked.

Lomole mentioned that people have lost moral values by committing what he terms the sin of flesh and hence spreading HIV/AIDS to others.

He said with the prayers of the church, the state government together with the national government will do the best they can to stop rampant insecurity across the state to ensure conducive environment for everyone to live in.

Aftermath of civil war

Theme of the prayers was Bible verse 2 Chronicles 7:14, where the congregants recognized the need to seek for God’s forgiveness for the sins done both before and after the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement.

South Sudanese still experience the aftermath of the past 21 years of civil war, and this poses a great need for healing.

|Gabe Joselow VOA|

South Sudan’s military says the so-called White Army militia is marching on the capital of Jonglei state, threatening to escalate violence in the country just a day after the government announced a cease-fire.

The rebel opposition has dismissed calls to end hostilities until all political prisoners are freed.

Military spokesman Philip Aguer told VOA Saturday that thousands of armed ethnic Nuer youths are heading toward the South Sudan city of Bor. That raises the prospects of renewed fighting in a political power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his rival, former vice president Riek Machar.

“In Jonglei, Riek Machar has been mobilizing the so-called White Army, the Lou Nuer youth, and has been moving with them toward Bor with the intention of launching a second attack on Bor,” said Aguer.

Rebel military factions took control of Bor last week, only to have government forces reclaim it a few days ago.  Aguer says the military is capable of repelling an attack.

The White Army is a group of armed civilians from the Nuer ethnic group that in the past has organized thousands of fighters to launch attacks in Jonglei state, mostly targeting the Murle community.

Ethnic tensions have escalated since the crisis began two weeks ago. That's when fighting erupted in the capital, Juba, between supporters of President Kiir, from the Dinka ethnic group, and Machar, a Nuer.  The violence has since spread across the country.

On Friday, at the urging of the international community, South Sudan’s government announced it was ready to cease hostilities to allow peace talks.

Rebecca Nyandeng, an ally of Machar, told VOA Saturday her side will not agree to a cease-fire until the government frees 11 political leaders detained on allegations they had plotted a coup.

“The cessation of hostilities will come when the people are released and when the people are released we’ll send the signal to the people that the government means peace and reconciliation,” Nyandeng said.

The government had said it will not accept any conditions for talks with Machar’s camp, including the release of political prisoners.  But Juba relaxed that position on Friday, saying it will release some detainees. 

Nyandeng says the offer is not enough. “It is a reality, it is not a precondition, because if these people are not out, the government will negotiate with who?”

United Nations officials have said more than a thousand people have been killed in the fighting. More than 63,000 people are said to be taking refuge in U.N. bases across the country.

|By Sheila Poni| 

At least six [6] primary school children including one teacher were killed by a thunder last week in Alusy Basic School Kiri Boma of Kangapo Payam in Kajokeji County. The incident happened at around 3’ O’clock following a stormy rain when the pupils were for their lessons, an eye witness said.

According to eye witness, two pupils from class were thrown out of their room by the power of the lighting while the other three including the teacher died in their primary 8 classroom.

Jeska Puyo, a pupil who was at the scene said she was on her way to drink water when she heard the bang.

“When the rain started, I tried to run, soon as I reached the door to get out, the lighting struck. One of the children was thrown out of the class and the other one thrown on the floor of classroom. All of them were bleeding from the mouth when I peeped through the window from outside” Said Puyo while apparently looking at shocking mood.

Modi Emmanuel Taban, Examination Secretary at the school said the deceased teacher was delivering an English lesson at the time the lightning struck.

According to County Officials, thunderstorms are a common happening in Kajo keji.

The head of county education department, mr. … said that a series of similar incidences had happened in previous years. However this is yet the worst incident to hit a school in … years.

The Eastern Equatoria State Governor, Louis Lobong Lojore has expressed disappointment with some local communities for resisting foreign investors.

While addressing the Press at his office, Lobong indicated that the communities were not flexible in welcoming investors who are helping exploit the untapped resources. A Parliamentary Committee probing the issue revealed that a team of investors carrying out assessment on gold mining in Ngauro Payam were intimidated when the locals fired bullets in the air to scare them. Lobong acknowledged that the local communities lack information on the importance of investors to their livelihoods and there is need to create awareness. 

He noted that awareness campaign cannot be successfully done if the Investment Bill, presently at National Legislative Assembly, is not passed. “We are waiting for the investment Bill to be passed by lawmakers in Juba. Once it is passed, it will now be used for dissemination to the public,” he explained. The Governor disclosed that his administration is determined to tackle the challenges facing the people.

He said he will seek support from international donors, international non-governmental organisations, civil society groups and the national government.

(Gurtong)