South Sudan churches support IGAD peace proposal
August 5, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), which membership is drawn from different denominations of churches, have fully supported the peace compromise proposal by the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), saying it was the only way to end the ongoing bloodshed in the young country.
“Our position [as South Sudan bishops] is simply this; that if this document, this position is not signed then it means we are just going on pouring blood, killing, robbing, dying, displaced, refugees and so on,” said Loro, speaking at the two-day conference in Juba.
“[If the peace is not signed] that means fighting is simply going on because there is no way out that will stop the fighting,” he said.
Archbishop Loro described the IGAD-Plus peace proposal as “not perfect” but better than dragging on with the war.
IGAD-Plus peace proposal gives president Salva Kiir’s government 53% executive at the national level and opposition leader Riek Machar 33%. Former detainees and other political parties equally share 14%.
The rebels will control 53% of executives in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states and the government will have 33% while former detainees and other political parties take 7% each.
President Kiir has however indicated that he will not sign the document in its current form. But Bishop Loro said there must be compromise from the warring parties.
“There are many points which are not good, which are not correct, which are not right which must be put in order. But we are stressing that at the end of it, we should not just end up in disarray. We must end up for with the signing of peace for South Sudan,” he said.
Negotiations are due to resume in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The government negotiators left Juba for Addis Ababa on Wednesday and have to deliberate on the document till mid-August when the two principals are expected to sign a final agreement.
(ST)