October 23rd 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – A South Sudanese church leader has called on the Trump Administration to help South Sudan, world’s youngest nation, transit to democracy.
South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013 after dispute at a National Convention of the ruling SPLM party over who can lead SPLM for elections due for 2015.
The party infighting instigated split in the country’s army, SPLA, igniting a bloody civil war which has since killed hundred of thousands and displaced millions from their homes.
Last year, the government and opposition groups including Machar’s SPLM-IO signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement to end the bloody civil war.
The agreement provided for the formation of a unity government led by Kiir as the president and Machar as his first deputy in eight months but a May deadline was extended to November to enable for completion of pre-transitional tasks.
However, Machar’s group and the National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin said on Sunday that they will not be a part of the unity government because those tasks are still far from complete.
“The reason why I am here is to encourage the government of the United States to take its role of helping and assisting this young democracy to build a peaceful, prosperous country,” said Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala who is on a mission to the United States.
“It is still the best gift for us, but the problem is it was too early for the international community to give up on us and let us go on our own. We should not be measured (with) other countries who are already developed. We are a young democracy and we need the support and the love of the world to continue to grow in the right direction.
“I told them that we have to mobilize together to go and talk to the rebels and the government to stop war and bring peace, and we brought out over 10,000 young men who were in the bush.”
