09 May 2016 – CNHPR STATEMENT ON WELCOMING THE FORMATION OF THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY (TGONU)
Since Our establishment on 22nd April 2013 by a Presidential Order, we the Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation have been actively leading a nationwide peace and reconciliation process among the grassroots communities of South Sudan. As a Committee led by the country’s prominent Religious Leaders, our work has been independent from any institution including the government that established it. Since the eruption of violence in the country on 15th December 2013, all our voices have always been united in calling for an end to the conflict and a return of a total peace and harmony among the people of South Sudan.
We highly welcome the patriotic move by Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the SPLM in Opposition in displaying their full commitment to peace that saw the return of Dr. Riek Machar Teny to Juba as First Vice President and subsequent formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. As Church Leaders, we have been running around the country and praying day and night to see this happening. The formation of TGONU marks the final stamp on the peace paper and we believe that violence will eventually subside at any part of the country. After so many ups and downs during the peace negotiations, this will stamp out any doubts in the hearts of our grassroots people who have been living in fear and trauma after having gone through tragic events of violence during the last two years.
We would like to register our happiness for this great development in our country and also Congratulate President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his two deputies, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and Vice President James Wani Igga who altogether form the Presidency of South Sudan. We would like to also extent our congratulations to all the Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the TGONU for being entrusted to spearhead the change that the people of South Sudan want to see during the next 30 months of this government. After coming together into forming the Transitional Government, we urge our leaders to put into high consideration the suffering of the people of South Sudan, especially those displaced internally and those taking refuge in the neighbouring countries. The government should provide adequate security to encourage people to return to their homes and also help them in repatriation.
The Transitional Government of National Unity will be the first test for our politicians and the South Sudanese in General to see that we can exist and work together for the common good of our country. Since TGONU has been established out of different political spectrums that has seen a well represented participation of different segments of the SPLM party as well as other political parties, it’s another chance for us South Sudanese to renew our image in the eyes of God and the International Community that we can unite and work together for peace and development of our nation.
We urge all the people of South Sudan to rally their support behind this government and contribute to nurture it into a government that they want to see bring a change after many years of suffering. We also appeal to the South Sudanese in all walks of life to put an end to hate speech and inflammatory statements that might again incite violence and jeopardize peace. It is our collective responsibility to uphold this peace so that our country dwells in the havens of peace and harmony.
We are calling upon all our leaders in TGONU to lead by example and work together to show the people of South Sudan the meaning of unity. They might have come to the government using different political vehicles but at the end of the day they are working in the same government of South Sudan and serving the same people of South Sudan. We will not be interested in political manoeuvres and blame games but to see a teamwork that jointly deliver practical activities geared towards development. It is our high expectation that you work together to unite us.
We urge the government to prioritize the process of national healing, peace and reconciliation to quickly bring together the divided grassroots. As the political level has successfully come together and the grassroots remain divided, we urge the politicians to take lead in sensitizing communities towards peace and prepare grounds for the Church and other peace bodies that will work for peace and reconciliation at the grassroots. We recommend that the process of forming the Commission for Truths, Healing and Reconciliation (CTRH) should start now and be fast tracked. As mentioned in Chapter Five of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCISS), the Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation is ever ready to handover to CTRH soon as it is formed and become operational.
We urge the people of South Sudan to create space and dialogue to find solutions to their issues, all from the village level to the political level and avoid violence which brings about destruction and instil hatred in the hearts of the people. It is our spiritual mandate as a Church to work day and night for peace and harmony among our people. Our prayers are with the people South Sudan and the new government.
May God Bless South Sudan and her people!
The Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul
Archbishop, Primate and Metropolitan of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan
Chairperson, Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation (CNHPR)
5TH MAY 2016
Monday, 09 May 2016
http://www.combonisouthsudan.org/
