CORRECTION – S. Sudan: Swiss-based group to support national reconciliation process

‘-* Article corrected on April 8, 2013

March 31, 2013 (JUBA) – Initiatives for Change International (IOFC), a Switzerland-based organisation, has pledged to support the much-anticipated South Sudanese national reconciliation and healing process.

The process, initiated early this year by the South Sudan cabinet, seeks to heal wounds of the bitter past among communities emanating from the over two decades of civil war in South Sudan.

The government has allocated SSP 8 million to the support the process with a further SSP 3 million being raised from grants and other sources.

In existence since 1908, IOFC, is described as a world-wide movement of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are committed to the transformation of society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting with their own.

A replica of the religious entity, an official told Sudan Tribune, has already been registered by the South Sudan Justice ministry, under the name Initiatives of Change-South Sudan.

The aim is to mobilize support to the country for the national reconciliation processes and good governance, among many others, James Gatdet Dak, the press secretary to the vice-president, Riek Machar, said.

Meanwhile, the national reconciliation conference initially planned to take place from 18 April until May 1, has been rescheduled and will be held from 1-4 June in Juba, the country’s capital.

However, several outreach campaigns have been earmarked to take place from mid-April to May, through workshops, meetings and consultations at all levels of the country, prior to the conference.

(ST)