President Kiir urges Muslims to support peace implementation

September 24, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, has issued a statement congratulating members of the Muslim community in the country and urging them to spread in their preaching the importance of unity, assuring that he and his government would leave no stone unturned to implement the peace agreement he signed on 26 August with the opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar.

President Salva Kiir, according to the statement attributed to him and broadcast by the state owned South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Wednesday, said it was of utmost importance that each and every one in the country strengthened source of guidance in order to get direction in the country.

The head of state used the occasion to call for a “sincere and great effort” towards ending the conflict with the full implementation of the agreement he has signed with opposition groups.

The statement stressed it was essential to bring peace to the country through dialogue and the implementation of the internationally backed regional brokered peace deal.

Members of Muslim communities in Juba held prayers on Thursday in Medan Zahra in Juba in celebrating Eid al-Adha. Several Muslim preachers, including the Islamic council leader, Juma Tombe, expressed support to helping the government with the implementation of the peace deal, saying they were happy to celebrate the festival when peace has been signed.

“The celebration of Eid Al-Adha this year is happening together with the signing of the peace agreement, and this shows that we are in peace,” said Tombe.

“As members of the Muslim community in this country and as citizens of this country, we have pledged our support to the president and his government to help him in the implementation of the peace agreement which he has signed with the armed opposition.”

The religious leader, according to the teaching of Quran, explained the day is celebrated every year in honour of the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son. He added this was an act of submission to God’s command, before God intervened, through his angel Jibra’il (Gabriel) and informed him that his sacrifice had already been accepted.

He commended president Kiir for signing the peace agreement to end the war and urged for its full implementation.

(ST)