Juba, South Sudan
August 2, 2021 — South Sudanese Catholic bishops have asked President Salva Kiir to reconsider their inclusion in the implementation process of the Revitalized Peace Agreement that was signed in 2018.
This comes after a delegation of clergymen led by the Archbishop of Juba, Stephen Ameyu Martin visited the president Salva Kiir in his office last week.
According to the information received by Nyamilepedia, the delegation of church leaders consisted of Bishops Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwok of the Malakal Diocese and Emeritus Paride Taban of the Diocese of Torit.
Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin said they have never made it to the office of the president since the signing of the 2018 agreement but they say it is very crucial to do so in order to demonstrate their full support towards the peace implementation process.
“Since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement, we as bishops of South Sudan had not paid visit to the president and we thought it better to do so and assure him of our support towards the process of peace implementation,” said Martin.
“We asked him to include some religious leaders in the peace negotiation process since none of us are involved and it is necessary [that] we too take part”, he added.
According to Archbishop Martin, the religious leaders visited Mr. President to show their solidarity towards the implementation of the Revitalized Peace deal, adding that the importance of incorporating religious leaders in the national reconciliation, justice and peace process which is taking place now in South Sudan is worthy.
“We asked the president to include some religious leaders in the peace process since none of us is involved and it is necessary that we too take part,” Martin quoted by Sudan tribune to have explained.
“Nothing is as good as having peace and guns silenced. When there is peace, people have the opportunity to live normal lives and stay happily,” he added in a statement.
The religious leaders believed that peace will reign in the country no matter what time it takes and circumstances hinder it.
“It will be good for the government to continue implementing peace. Even if it is at the slow tortoise pace, it will have some positive impact,” said Archbishop Martin in the statement.
