MESSAGE OF PEACE FROM THE EPISCOPAL AND CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SOUTH SUDAN

MESSAGE OF PEACE FROM THE EPISCOPAL AND CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SOUTH SUDAN Meeting in Yei, 9th – 11th May 2012 “WE HAVE A DREAM OF PEACE, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM” Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be recognised as children of God (Matthew 5:9) 1. We, fourteen bishops representing the Episcopal and Catholic Churches of South Sudan, met in Yei, South Sudan, from 9th – 11th May 2012, to pray and reflect together on the relationship between our two Churches, our wider ecumenical responsibilities, and the role we can play in bringing peace and understanding between Sudan and South Sudan. We are saddened that our brother bishops from the Republic of Sudan were unable to attend the meeting due to the current political situation. We remain one Church in two nations, and they and their people are in our prayers. 2. We received with gratitude a message of support from the Archbishop of Canterbury. In this his final year in office we would like to thank him for his commitment to the Church and people of Sudan and South Sudan and wish him every blessing in the future. We were privileged to have with us the Most Reverend John Sentamu, Anglican Archbishop of York, and facilitators from the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. We are humbled by this demonstration of solidarity by the Universal Church. 3. We were honoured by a visit from the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Ms Hilde Johnson. We expressed to her our appreciation for the work of UNMISS, particularly in the Jonglei peace process, and also our concerns. We welcome the peace accord signed by leaders of the six communities of Jonglei State and urge all stakeholders to implement the resolutions and recommendations. 4. We examined our role as religious leaders, reflecting on the character of Abraham, father in faith to Jews, Christians and Muslims. We recognised the suffering Christ on the cross, which we as Christians embrace, but also the joyful Christ of the Transfiguration, a vision which can strengthen us in difficult times. Our prayer, reflection and discernment led us to write this message to our Christians, to all the people of Sudan and South Sudan, and to our friends in the International Community. 5. Much of the last six decades has been characterised by a struggle for freedom on the part of marginalised peoples within the old nation of Sudan. That struggle has taken many forms, of which violent conflict was only one. There have been conferences, round tables, negotiations, agreements, constitutional processes, diplomacy, different models of governance, advocacy, lobbying, peaceful demonstrations, popular uprisings, strikes, arbitration, mediation, boycotts, sanctions, civil disobedience, elections and much more. 6. The struggle of one section of the marginalised peoples of Sudan culminated in a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), a referendum which was admired across the world, and the peaceful birth of a new nation, the Republic of South Sudan. Despite intense frustration within South Sudan that many of the provisions of the CPA were not being implemented, and despite military provocation from Khartoum, South Sudan followed the path of peace and refused to be drawn back into military conflict. 7. We wish to thank the International Community for their efforts to bring about the CPA, the referendum and the birth of South Sudan. Without their unceasing support, it is unlikely that the people of South Sudan would be enjoying their freedom now. Ever since the “forgotten war” became known to the world, South Sudanese have always felt that the International Community understood their plight and supported their desire for self-determination and freedom. 8. We are close to the grassroots communities of South Sudan, and what we are hearing from them now concerns us. It seems that the people of South Sudan are losing their faith in the International Community. We have even seen public demonstrations against the UN and its Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon. At the same time we begin to wonder whether the International Community still understands the aspirations of the people of South Sudan, as well as the marginalised communities in Sudan. We are not politicians, but we feel we should present some of the issues that we hear from our people. We cherish our good image as a nation and would not like to see it tarnished, so we invite our international friends to try to understand how the people on the ground see the situation. 9. Even before Independence we watched the military occupation of Abyei by Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), in contravention of the Abyei Protocol of the CPA. The people of Abyei did not get the referendum to which they are entitled under the CPA. We see that UN peacekeepers are now in Abyei, but we also see that most of the population of Abyei is still displaced, living under terrible conditions, afraid to return to their homes. 10. We also saw a military campaign against the people of the Nuba Mountains and then Blue Nile, despite a peace agreement which was signed by the National Congress Party (NCP) representative but abrogated by the same party within days. The popular consultations agreed in the CPA were not fully implemented. A humanitarian disaster is unfolding in both areas as Khartoum once again bombs its own civilians. At the same time it continues its war on a third front, Darfur. 11. Almost immediately after Independence, SAF attacked South Sudan using both air and ground forces. Civilians were killed and injured, refugee camps were bombed, and Jau was occupied militarily. President Salva Kiir echoed the feelings of the people when he said that South Sudan did not want war and, just as before Independence, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) forces did not respond to military provocation. 12. During this period, talks on oil broke down, and it was alleged that Khartoum was unilaterally appropriating some of South Sudan’s oil. There had been indications from the government in Juba that they might consider an oil shut-down, but perhaps the warnings were not clear enough, nor disseminated widely enough, and they were not taken seriously. Finally a decision was made to cease exporting oil through Sudanese pipelines and to explore the option of new pipelines through Kenya and Ethiopia. This was extremely popular with the people of South Sudan, despite the economic implications, as it was felt to be a demonstration of sovereignty. Nevertheless, we are concerned that stakeholders, both domestic and international, were not adequately consulted, and that the economic impact of the shut-down was not fully appreciated. We call upon the Government of South Sudan to ensure that basic services and good governance are delivered despite economic problems. 13. After many months of military restraint in the face of provocation, in April 2012 SPLA finally responded. It pursued SAF troops which had attacked the Republic of South Sudan, and it subsequently occupied Heglig, also known as Panthou. South Sudan believes Heglig/Panthou lies within their territory according to the 1956 borders; Khartoum disputes this. 14. At this point, South Sudanese were extremely surprised at the reaction of the International Community. Given their years of restraint in the face of both military provocation by Khartoum and the lack of progress in negotiations, they were shocked by what they perceived as a very one-sided condemnation of their action by the International Community, and many felt betrayed. 15. The fact that this occurred against a backdrop of an impossible deadline for South Sudanese to leave Sudan, a humanitarian disaster for many of those who were trying to do so, harassment and threats, action by security organs against South Sudanese, and the burning of churches, led South Sudanese in both countries to feel even more hurt and confused by the attitude of the International Community. An agreement had been negotiated to protect the rights of citizens of both nations, but again it was abrogated by Khartoum. 16. Nevertheless, the government of South Sudan demonstrated its good intentions by withdrawing its forces from Heglig/Panthou within a few days of the International Community requesting it to do so. The people of South Sudan would much prefer to settle border disputes peacefully through arbitration. It is only as a last resort that they reluctantly resorted to force to protect their interests. Aerial bombardment of South Sudan continues, even as we meet and prepare this message. This time it has been definitively verified by UNMISS. We condemn in the strongest terms the aerial bombardment of civilians. 17. The South Sudanese people and their government are working hard to build a new nation. They want and need peace. They have endured military and political provocation from their northern neighbour. The oil shut-down and the military occupation of Heglig/Panthou appear to have been two attempts to respond to the apparent failure of negotiations. We do not believe that this is part of any great conspiracy against Sudan; it is simply an attempt to defend the territory and sovereignty of the new nation. Nevertheless we advise the Government of South Sudan to continue to exercise restraint and to avoid doing anything which might he construed as military aggression. We are concerned at the build-up of arms in both nations. 18. We have heard allegations that South Sudan is supporting rebel forces in the Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and Darfur. We call for international verification of these allegations. There is strong sympathy within South Sudan for the plight of the people. These areas have been called the “new south” as the people face the same marginalisation that South Sudanese did before Independence. Empathy with the people of these two areas is not the same as supporting rebel forces there. We do know, however, that there are rebel militia operating in South Sudan, and we have seen strong evidence that they have been supplied by Khartoum and that Sudanese security forces are colluding with them to abduct and forcibly recruit young South Sudanese men within the Republic of Sudan. These groups have openly called for the overthrow of the democratically-elected government in Juba. Unlike the rebel movements in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, they do not appear to have any popular support nor just cause. The Lord’s Resistance Army also still operates in South Sudan, and Khartoum is suspected of still supporting them. 19. We believe that it is important for our friends in the International Community to take a more balanced position. “Balanced” does not mean criticising both sides equally, but rather taking a broad and long-term view after in-depth study, and trying to apply pressure where it is needed to bring a just and lasting peace. 20. For this reason we welcome UN Security Council Resolution 2046 of 2nd May 2012. We note that it was passed unanimously, and we thank all the members of the Security Council. We are glad at last to see a resolution that deals comprehensively with many of the key issues including Abyei; that sets deadlines and promises sanctions if they are not met; that calls for border demarcation; and that creates a buffer zone to prevent further clashes. We welcome the prohibition of inflammatory and hostile propaganda, and insistence on the governments’ obligation to protect their citizens. 21. We urge both nations to implement the UN resolution fully and immediately and to recommence negotiations under the auspices of the AUHIP in good faith. 22. We recognise that we as South Sudanese have failed in some way to express our hopes and aspirations to the International Community in a way which they can understand. We commit ourselves and our Churches to renew our advocacy efforts on behalf of South Sudanese who are resident in both countries and the Diaspora. We are ready to cooperate with the Government of South Sudan to improve international awareness about key issues. 23. However the Church is not only for Christians nor for South Sudanese. The Church identifies with the poor and oppressed of any creed, ethnicity or nationality, wherever they are. For this reason we will continue to advocate on behalf of marginalised communities in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. We bring to the world not the voice of politicians, parties or movements but of the people on the ground, who are suffering a humanitarian tragedy and whose human dignity and human rights are not respected by their own government. 24. Martin Luther King famously said, “I have a dream”. We too have a dream, a vision, a conviction. Our dream is based on Gospel values; on the Church’s prophetic stance on justice and peace; and on the dignity of each human being, created in the image and likeness of God. Where others see problems, we see the presence of God and the opportunities which God’s presence opens up for us. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted (Luke 4:18). Our dream is an expression of this Good News. 25. We dream of two nations which are democratic and free, where people of all religions, all ethnic groups, all cultures and all languages enjoy equal human rights based on citizenship. We dream of two nations at peace with each other, cooperating to make the best use of their God-given resources, promoting free interaction between their citizens, living side by side in solidarity and mutual respect, celebrating their shared history and forgiving any wrongs they may have done to each other. We dream of people no longer traumatised, of children who can go to school, of mothers who can attend clinics, of an end to poverty and malnutrition, and of Christians and Muslims who can attend church or mosque freely without fear. Enough is enough. There should be no more war between Sudan and South Sudan! 26. Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be recognised as children of God (Matthew 5:9). We take this very seriously, and we stand committed to do all in our power to make our dream a reality. We believe that the people and government of South Sudan desperately want peace. We believe the same is true of the people and their liberation movements in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. We do not believe, however, that a lasting peace will come unless all parties act in good faith. Trust must be built, and this involves honesty, however painful that may be. We invite the International Community to walk with us on the painful journey of exploring the truth in competing claims and counter-claims, allegations and counter-allegations. We invite them to understand the peaceful aspirations of the ordinary people, and to reflect that in their statements and actions. 27. We also commit ourselves to a renewed ecumenical effort to build peace. During the civil war the strength of the Churches’ role on the ground and in international advocacy lay in their unity and ecumenical spirit. We confess that since peace came in 2005 the ecumenical project has dwindled. The Catholic and Episcopal Churches have much in common in their history, theology and praxis, both are Founder Members of the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and both are international institutions with a great deal of influence in the world for the well-being of all. Working together we believe we have much to offer to SCC as it restructures to meet the new reality of two nations, and as it faces new challenges due to the current military and political tensions. We have set up a committee to follow up on ecumenical issues, under the co-chairmanship of our two archbishops. 28. May God bless the nations and people of Sudan and South Sudan. May God bless you all. Agreed and Signed by the Bishops of the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church of Sudan in Yei on 11th May, 2012 ………………………………… ……………………………… The Most Revd. Canon Dr Daniel Deng Bul His Grace Paulino Lukudu Loro Archbishop, Primate & Bishop Archbishop of Catholic Diocese of Juba Archdiocese of Juba Episcopal Church of the Sudan Catholic Church …………………………………………… …………………………………………… Rt. Rev. Moses Deng Bol His Lordship Erkolano Lodu Tombe Bishop, Diocese of Wau Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Yei and Episcopal Church of Sudan Vice President of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference ………………………………… …………………………………………… Rt. Rev. Hilary Adeba Luate His Lordship Rudolf Deng Majak Bishop, Diocese of Yei Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Wau Episcopal Church of Sudan Catholic Church ………………………………… ………………………………… Rt. Rev. Enock Tombe His Lordship Vincent Mojwok Nyiker Bishop, Diocese of Rejaf Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Malakal Episcopal Church of Sudan Catholic Church …………………………………………… ………………………………… Rt. Rev. Peter Munde His Lordship Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala Bishop, Diocese of Yambio Bishop, Diocese of Tombura/Yambio Episcopal Church of Sudan Catholic Church ………………………………… ………………………………… Rt. Rev. Justin Badi Monsignor Rokko Taban Mousa Bishop, Diocese of Maridi Apostolic Administrator, Episcopal Church of Sudan Diocese of Malakal Catholic Church ………………………………… ………………………………… Rt. Rev. Bismark Avokaya Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo Bishop, Diocese of Mundiri Bishop, Diocese of Kajo-Keji Episcopal Church of Sudan Episcopal Church of Sudan ……………………………………………………………………… Also signed by The Most Reverend John Sentamu Archbishop of York Church of England Greetings to the ECS Catholic bishops convention

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