The governor of Jonglei state (pictured) has said that South Sudan needs to adopt a community-based peace approach as the best alternative for building peace and bringing development in the country.
Hon. Philip Aguer Panyang said this in a workshop called to launch the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) Action Plan for Peace. In his address, the governor acknowledged the significant role the SSCC had played in in peace building.
The peace plan by churches affiliated to SSCC aims to reconcile all the people of South Sudan.
“The best approach for peace building and development is to adopt a bottom-up approach,” he said. “We as the state are comfortable to see the church and the traditional authority…working together to achieve lasting peace.”
Supporting these sentiments, Rev. Ruben Akurdid Ngong, bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan, Bor diocese, and chairman of Inter-Church Committee of SSCC in Upper Nile region, said there was need for a holistic approach for peace building in the country.
“It is our collective responsibility to work for peace targeting the grassroots level and the leadership,” he said.
The launch of the peace plan took place in Bor, Jonglei state. The Action Plan for Peace was developed after a leaders’ meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, last year. The workshop was called to update stakeholders on the progress made on the Action Plan for Peace, and to create awareness and get the commitment of all stakeholders.
The action plan by churches is anchored on three pillars, advocacy at national, regional and international forums, neutral forums that bring together stakeholders in a less politically-charged atmosphere and reconciliation based on the church’s values of forgiveness and reconciliation.
The peace plan is a 30-month project that is being supported by Catholic Relief Services, Norwegian Church Aid and Finn Church Aid. Other partners include USAID, the EU and NORAD.
Other than members of SSCC, other stakeholders who attended the workshop included government officials, the civil society, youth leaders, women leaders and other grassroots peace actors.
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS