June 10, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — The Episcopal Church of [South] Sudan and the Fellowship of Christian University Students (FOCUS) are calling for change of governance in the county.
Last week a South Sudanese bishop of Episcopal Church cited what he referred as “bad governance” as the cause of a dreadful conflict that has affected South Sudanese in 6 months more than the times of liberation struggle. Bishop Moses Deng, of the Episcopal Church, Wau Diocese, took his time to elaborate in the diocesan newsletter that “the country is ruled by former rebel generals from the president to state governors down to the county commissioners.”
Although Bishop Moses Deng did not dwell on new leadership, he sympathizes with the suffering of the South Sudanese people, which he believes was instigated by a bad governance from the former rebel commanders.
“All these [900,000] people have been forced from where they live and now must exist by the kindness of others as refugees in the country that not so long ago they fought for, voted for and gave so much to defend. All that they had is gone and the life that they led is stopped,” siad Bishop Moses.
“No one is blameless in this and as a country and a people we must wake up to the truth that this situation cannot be allowed and we must look for a peace that binds us all if we are going to be a country”, Bishop Moses continue in his letter.
In another report, the Fellowship of Christian University Student(FOCUS) clearly states that South Sudan needs a new beginning with visionary leaders, who can unity the people of South Sudan and move the nation forward.
“The governance we are proposing is founded on the principle that ‘the citizenry and their leadership are in social contract’, where the leaders are there to serve the people – called to serve sacrificially and accountably, rather than lording it over the people and forging an elite of a privileged few,” they say.
To achieve this, FOCUS supports the formation of an interim government that would bring forth visionary and technocrats as aspire for by the people of South Sudan.
“An interim government seems to be the most acceptable and suitable proposal for the majority of the grieving and suffering South Sudanese at this time,” they say.
FOCUS reiterates that the people of South Sudan have been discontented with how generals turned politicians run the country for the last few years.
“It was common knowledge that the majority of the population was grumbling and discontented with how the country was moving, and the lack of realization of many of the anticipated peace dividends in terms of basic services,” they say.
To restore peace and rebuild the nation, the faith groups believe that the current government must be changed to see a new leadership with new perspectives and developmental principles.
“We would therefore like to see a leadership with a new paradigm shift of mindset from the current one where leadership is perceived (by leaders and followers) as ‘it is our turn to eat’”, the organization says in its proposal, ‘A Basis for Restoration and Nation Building’. FOCUS reiterated.
Religious groups have participated in uniting the country and praying for peace, however, their efforts meet challenges. The current regime has accused the religious leaders of “behaving like rebels”. This was made by government officials after the signing of May road map peace agreement in Addis Ababa between Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar.
The signing of the May 9th paper was controversial as president Kiir believes that the two leaders were threatened to ink the paper, however, his claims were denied by his opponent, Dr. Riek Machar. The two leaders have arrived in Addis Ababa with hopes to meet face-to-face today, June 10, to continue discussions on political settlements.
