Africa-Press – South-Sudan. By John Agok
Religious leaders are drawn from different denominations of churches including Muslims, traditional leaders and CSO yesterday conducted one-day panel discussion, to deliberate on peace and trauma healing, reconciliation among leaders in the Country.
The interface discussion for Faith-based leaders which brought together members from South Sudan Councils of Churches, Islamic Councils and Favour Africa international was rooted on an overview of peace accords implementation, challenges and way forward to invent a National peace-building strategy, with leverage from peace partners. The High-level panel discussion was under the theme: “Roads to peace -Achievements, Challenges and the way forward”
South Sudan has invented a “National development strategy plan” which encompasses silencing the gun and establishing resilience and recovery projects, a National Dialogue recommendation Strategy that is finally awaited for implementation.
In the opening remarks, Rev. Peter Garang who is a Provisional Secretary of ECSS touched on peace-building strategy and called for Peaceful co-existence and love for a clean Country. He also called for the disarmament of hearts of realm of violence.
“God has not forgotten remnants of war in this Country. There must be a voice of churches to unite the Country. Through you and me will clean the image of South Sudan, by building together peace and reconciliation. We are not paid by government simply because, we may not able to talk truth if it happened.
“I believe South Sudan one day will be peaceful and clean this Country’s image,
we must move beyond our tribal affiliated sentiments. We can’t talk peace but just do peace. We only be peaceful Country when system- based government of all equality establish”, Peter Garang concluded as he declared the conference open.
In his part Peter Ajak Ayuen the Representative from Favor Africa lauded Faith-based leaders and CSO for attending the interfaced high-level panel discussion under it deserves theme.
“I appreciated your attendance and I understand you leaders from faith-based groups are capable to learn from each other experiences. We need to learn from the Ministry of peace-building and reconciliation, in creating enabling environment for dissemination of peace accord to the grassroots level. Peace to our local community is initiated by Faith based leaders in bringing together political leaders and resolve their differences through peace, reconciliation and trauma healing”, he noted.
“It is our primary focus as Faith based leaders to engage all politicians and warring parties leaders for peace settlement through the support of our peace partners”.
Meanwhile, the Director of Bureau of Religious Affairs Office , Moses Telar Cindut, highlighted on led track pyramid society where political elites top it and ordinary people bottom it all.
Telar narrowed it down to root causes of our problems as: illiteracy, harmful cultural practices and climate change. He recommended education, emancipation awareness in society.
However, Endmund Yakani CEPO Executive Director lambasted Church Leaders for playing a double standard strategy that hindered Peace and justice to affected communities by the violence.
“My Church Leaders, I know the “truth is bitter” our church leaders nowadays are deviating from doctrines and moral principles and participate in evil advocate. Imagine among three types of cross wearing, one for Sunday , wearing pistol to Bilpam to collect your salary and other to navigate power for political positions, honestly, how we believe you here!?”, He asked.
Yakani drawn a diagram illustrating what he dubbed as “death square” in the map of South Sudan. These are hot-spot areas where death are daily reported by the media and result of cattle raiding. He urged Faith based leaders to be independent and refrain from political manipulation and self-interest”,he added.
The high-level panel discussion with Faith-based leaders and CSO was organized by Favour Africa International in collaboration with UNMISS under Civil Affairs Department.
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