President Salva Kiir and Two Catholic Bishops Discusses Future of South Sudan during a Private Audience

The Archbishop of Juba, Most Rev. Stephen Amenyu, and the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio Rt. Rev. Edwardo Hiiboro on Tuesday had an audience with the President of the Republic of South Sudan General Salva Kiir Mayardit.

 According to Bishop Hiiboro, the audience which was only between the two Catholic Bishops and President Salva Kiir was “very productive and successful.” Bishop Hiiboro disclosed that the reason they went to see the president was to greet him and to encourage him and also as a good Christian and a good Catholic the two Bishops went to bless the president’s new office and also to bless the people who worked with him.

 “So we met him on Tuesday to assure him of our closeness as church leaders and as representatives from the Bishops conference, we went on behalf of the people of South Sudan to assure him of collaboration, and our readiness to collaborate with him and to work with him and with the government and all of them for peace and growth of our people in the  Republic of South Sudan,” Bishop Hiiboro said adding that they also wanted to congratulate him for the implementation of the peace agreement and formation of the government of national unity, his decision to bring the then 32 states to 10 states, which was the original number and they thanked the president for that.

 “We also went to thank him for making peace with the fighting forces and Rebels in the Republic of Sudan which was signed here in Juba and this is a great sign to make peace in the neighboring country the piece of Sudan is the peace of South Sudan,” Bishop Hiiboro said adding that the audience was also an opportunity for them as religious leaders to encourage the president and his collaborators, the opposition, and others to continue implementing the peace agreement, though slowly but to the later.

 The two prelates also informed the president about the feelings of the people, the desire for people among the people, and the sufferings and all that is going on within the country because of war and conflict.

 “So we told him that he was on the right track and should continue working hard with his colleagues in order to be able to consolidate peace in the country. We were able also during that meeting to stress the fact that the implementation of this peace agreement though we know it is complex and difficult, they should not give in to war, they should never take the country back to war but rather work tirelessly to be able to establish peace in the Republic of South Sudan.”

 The two Catholic Bishops assured the president of the Church’s readiness to continue collaborating with the government and other partners, working for peace to ensure that South Sudan become stable. “We reminded him that of course there are a lot of inter-tribal problems within the country, hunger, the displacement of people, the refugees; all this is upon us and upon him and therefore, we need as a country to stabilize our nation.”

 Bishop Hiiboro expressed that the president was very happy, first of all, to meet them, he was so open and appreciated everything we talked to him about. Concerning the coronavirus pandemic and the closure of places of worship, the president told the two Bishops to open the churches but ensure that the precautionary measures put in place to curb any possible spread as provided by the national ministry of health and international health organizations must be adhered to. He told the two Bishops to also continue praying for the country.

 “The president also assured us that he will never take the Republic of South Sudan back to war. He said that the war and conflict have brought South Sudan into big financial difficulties, a situation that is currently straining the country’s development plans,” Bishop Hiiboro revealed, adding that the president also expressed his desire and interest to implement the peace agreement although he did underline the fact that, the agreement is so complex, with so much that requires keen attention, hence the justification for the need of the five deputies need of patience from the people of South Sudan.

 The president asked for prayers so that the process may be a success. He also asked for the Church’s collaboration and to work together with the government.

“The president said that the government cannot do without the Church. We need them just like we did during the struggle for the liberation when the Church was there to unite us. He did not shy away from the fact that South Sudan has suffered enough and therefore cannot afford to go back to self-destruction.”

By Rurugene Online News