May 30, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —– On peace and reconciliation, South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, has attended two church services this weekend.
On Saturday, Dr. Machar’s family and friends visited the Seventh Day Adventist headquarters in Muniki Church on May 28th and proceeded to St. Thomas Parish on May 29th.
Stated on his social media today, Machar called for reconciliation and forgiveness among the South Sudanese people.
“On Sunday, May 29, I visited my fifth church, St Thomas Parish of Munuki , where I also called on the congregation to embrace reconciliation and forgiveness among the divided people of South Sudan”. Said the First Vice President.
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The First Vice President reminds the congregations in Muniki churches that peace, forgiveness and national healing are the only hope for the war-torn nation to move forward to recovery.
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“H. E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan visited the Seventh day Adventist headquarters at Muniki Church yesterday 28 May 2016 as part of his ongoing effort to preach Peace, reconciliation and healing among the South Sudanese People. His Excellency called for forgiveness and called upon the nation to embrace peace as the only hope for this country. VIVA SPLM-IO VIVA.” Said Puok Riek Deng, former National Youth chairman
Since his return to the Capital 4 weeks ago, the first vice president made efforts to visit the churches and calls for reconciliation among the congregations.
Machar has emphasized in his public briefings the need for peace, reconciliation, national healing and accountability, however, the other warring parties have shown mixed feelings especially on accountability.
Government officials on Kiir’s side, who initially opposed the quest for justice and accountability, are now calling for the international community and the regional block IGAD to delay establishment of a hybrid court.
““The priority now is the need from the international community to stand with the transitional government of national unity and provide the necessary support to be able to establish itself and function. The second priority is to encourage the parties to build trust and to demonstrate willingness to work together as a team then the time for the rest will come” said Daniel Awet Akot, the presidential advisor on military affairs.
“Establishing the court now when the agreement itself has not been implemented is not a priority. It will derail the process” Awet said.
To many South Sudanese on both sides of the conflict, peace and reconciliation cannot be sustained without proper justice and accountability for crimes committed during the war.
Although Machar’s visits and message of reconciliation have been highly welcomed by the congregations, a group of protesters stormed Emmanuel Jieng Parish yesterday morning and created chaos in the church before the suspects got arrested by the national security.
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