By Our
Correspondent, JUBA South Sudan
The South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), in their independence anniversary message, said that there is little for South Sudanese to celebrate after ten years of independence and that the next decade should usher in a new peace, justice, freedom, and prosperity for all.
“As we
mark ten (10) years of our independence today, with pains in our hearts, there
is little to celebrate. It is truly a difficult time and experience for us, the
people of South Sudan. Our hearts continue to groan with pain, anguish,
turmoil, despair, and misery as lives are lost every day in every corner of our
country,” the message read in part. “Conflict has become the context in which
we are evolving with rampant proxy inter-communal violence, increasing cases of
sexual violence, revenge killings, and land grabbing and child abduction.”
According to
SSCC, these protracted armed conflicts have not only destabilized peace but
have also retarded the socio-economic development of the country.
Reading
the message, SCC General Secretary Fr. James Oyet Latansio, said, “These conflicts
have rendered our first ten years of independence, "a wasted decade".
We are at a standstill in many ways!”
He added,
“We, the people of South Sudan in all our diversities, both at home and abroad
united in celebrating the historic attainment of the independence of our
beloved country, the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011. The world
descended on Juba, to celebrate with us! There was euphoria and triumphalism
marking the birth of the World's Newest Nation, the Republic of South Sudan,”
SSCC’s message said, “We hoped that we had finally arrived in the Promised Land
after decades of struggles and selfless sacrifices for a better country. As
stated in the Text of the Declaration of our Independence, the selfless
sacrifices of our martyrs, heroes, and heroines were for "the
cause of justice, freedom, and prosperity for our people".”
“On this
day ten years ago, we expected a new ray of hope, optimism, and reign of
sustainable peace with prosperity. However, those jubilations and celebrations
were short-lived as the nation in just two years descended into violent
conflicts that have devastated all aspects of South Sudanese lives. Painfully,
millions of our citizens, who were hopeful and jubilant on this day ten years
ago, were suddenly impoverished, made hopeless, and reduced to extreme
dependence on humanitarian assistance,” Fr. Oyet added.
The SSCC said the revitalized peace agreement remains the most viable framework for peace but is unfortunately stifled by a lack of political will and sluggish and varying implementation.
“The
Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South
Sudan (R ARCSS) signed in 2018, was the most viable framework for peace and a
beacon of hope for South Sudanese. Unfortunately, its slow and inconsistent
implementation is very worrying and shatters all hopes to restore stability
through this Peace Agreement; and there appears to be a lack of political
will,” SSCC’s message said.
The
churches said they will continue to stand strong with the people of South Sudan
in advocating for sustainable Peace, Justice, Healing, Forgiveness, and
Reconciliation in the land. They urged the non-signatories to the peace deal to
dialogue, reach a peaceful resolution, and usher in sustainable peace.
“On this
occasion of commemorating the first decade of our independence, the SSCC
declares the Second Decade of South Sudan's Independence as a period of a new
beginning of Peace, Justice, Freedom, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and
Prosperity for all our people. It must not be another lost decade!” SSCC said.
“It is an
opportunity to rescue our people from imposed destitution and sustain their
livelihoods. In this second decade, we must stop the self-sabotage of our
collective future and prosperity. We must reflect on what went wrong in the
first decade after independence, learn from those experiences, and rise to the
collective responsibility of this generation to deliver our country from its
current predicaments. Never again shall our people be merciless victims of our
own hands!”
The SSCC called on the Global Ecumenical Church Fellowship, the International and Development Partners and friends of South Sudan, not to abandon the country in its journey into the next ten years.
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