Top clerics urge Kiir, activists to dialogue over planned uprising

JUBA – Leaders of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan are appealing to President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government and civil rights activists to dialogue over protests that are being planned for August 30.

The top South Sudanese clerics made the call during a press conference in the country’s capital Juba this afternoon in which they expressed strong anger over the recent killings of civilians including Catholic nuns along the Nimule-Juba highway.

“We are worried about the planned call for a demonstration on 30^th August by People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) and humbly call on Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) and leaders of People’s Coalition for Civil Action to embrace the spirit of dialogue,” he added.

On the 16^th August, four people including two Catholic Nuns were killed in an ambush along the key trade route connecting South Sudan to neighboring Uganda while traveling from Loa Parish in Torit Dioceses of Eastern Equatoria State where they had traveled to attend Parish Centenary celebrations, to Juba.

The church leaders said they are concerned over the increase of insecurity in the country.

“We, the Primates and Archbishops of Episcopal Church of South Sudan, are deeply concerned about the increased road ambushes, conflicts and inter-communal violence happening in various parts of the country,” Dr. Justin Badi Arama, Primate of Episcopal Church of South Sudan, said during the press conference.

“We strongly condemn the killing of innocent Catholic Nuns and other travelers on Nimule-Juba road and continue conflict in Tombura County of Western Equatoria State,” the Church leader said.

Over the weekend, violence erupted again Tambura County of Western Equatoria State after the body of an officer from the Criminal Investigation Department was found on the outskirts of Tombura. According to state authorities, death toll in Tambura clashes has risen to 16 after five other people were killed on Monday.

Between June and July, over 20 people were reportedly killed in separate attacks in the areas of Source Yubu, Akpa, Mabenge, Kpatanayo and other locations in Tambura County. The clerics called on the government and leaders of People’s Coalition for Civil Action to embrace the spirit of dialogue to avoid returning the country to war.

The Church leaders also called on regional players and friends of South Sudan to continue engaging hold-out groups to recommit to dialogue and ceasefire to minimize the suffering of citizens.