Only God can save South Sudan: Says President Kiir, calls for prayers and forgiveness

02, March 2017 (Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan embattled President Salva Kiir has called on South Sudanese to turn to God for prayers saying only God will save South Sudan from the current mess, saying it was time for South Sudanese to turn to God for forgiveness and blessings while intense fighting continues to rage across the country.

“Our time …, it is now ripe to turn to God and ask Him for forgiveness and blessings. We have not been that prefect and we need to submit ourselves to Almighty through prayers,” the President said speaking on national television

In the message broadcast on the state broadcasting Television, President Salva Kiir declared himself the patron of the expected National Dialogue he declared in and called on South Sudanese to turn to God for forgiveness of all the bad things they have committed.

“As your leader and the Patron for the National Dialogue, I am obliged to release this public statement to inform all our citizens and friends about the planned National Day of Prayers that’s going to be held on March 10th, 2017,” President Kiir said on a statement broadcast on state run SSBC.

President Kiir called on South Sudan all across the country to turn out in big numbers to praise the lord on the 10th of March, saying he was calling for prayers ahead of his announced National Dialogue which is expected to start next week.

Kiir called on the state South Sudanese in different states and in the Diaspora to join in the prayers and seek forgiveness.

“We wish to ask the Diaspora communities to pray with us on this day so we turn our plait (problems) to the almighty” Kiir appealed to the South Sudan diaspora community.

South Sudanese political analysts and observers alike say the best way forward would have been for the President to call for a ceasefire ahead of the proposed national dialogue as a sign of peace and reconciliation after which the proposed National Dialogue to give a suitable atmosphere for all side to recess and prepare for .

But President Kiir says he should be the one to lead the National Dialogue process, he has so far appointed his close allies and political leaders loyal to him at members of the National Dialogue committee.

Critics say President Silva Kiir is part of the current conflict and therefore not the right person to lead the national dialogue, instead there are calls to allow the South Sudan churches or council of Churches to be allowed to lead the reconciliation process.

On the message broadcast live on SSBC President Kiir called on South Sudanese to repent and seek forgiveness.

“repent and forgive each other for the problems that we might have committed against one another for the last four years.” the President said

Many South Sudanese have dismissed President Salva Kirr’s calls for prayers and National Dialogue as a farce and another attempt to squander opportunity for peace, they say the process lacks the right approach to reconcile the country and achieve its goals, they add that the President cannot call for forgiveness and prayers while at the same time ordering the army to carry on attacks across the country.