---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "John Ashworth" <[email protected]> Date: 26 Dec 2013 13:40 Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Calls for peace in South Sudan To: "Group" <[email protected]>
1. South Sudan bishop calls for peace at cathedral that has become refuge Santo Pio tells congregation to reject tribalism at Christmas mass attended by president accused of crackdown Daniel Howden theguardian.com, Wednesday 25 December 2013 15.19 GMT Christmas mass in Juba, the capital of embattled South Sudan, began with a passage from Isaiah, with the bishop Santo Pio inveighing against the "kingdom of violence" that caused the destruction of Jerusalem. The congregation, which included the staunchly Catholic president, Salva Kiir, was told how tribalism had divided the peoples of Judah and Israel, just as it is now doing in the world's youngest country. The cathedral has been transformed into a refugee camp in the past week with as many as 7,000 people seeking shelter from the violence that has unravelled South Sudan. The fighting, which began with a dispute between rival factions in the presidential guard on 15 December and has since spread to half of South Sudan's 10 states, has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes. At least 50,000 civilians have sought protection inside a handful of UN bases, while others have streamed out of towns and into rural areas. An unknown number have fled into neighbouring Uganda, or to the north of Kenya, where refugee camps that remain from Sudan's 20-year civil war are beginning to see new arrivals. On Christmas Day, families who had fled their homes fearing persecution on the basis of their ethnicity were sitting in the crowded cathedral alongside the president, and camping outside. "There is a lot of fear around," said Santo. "The families are living in fear and do not know what will happen the next day. They have seen what can happen in broad daylight." He warned that the fabric of the new nation had been torn by a struggle that had cynically conflated politics with ethnic identity at the cost of thousands of lives. The bishop appealed for a ceasefire from leaders who had grown up in communities where "everyone followed one person" and must now take responsibility for a country. "We have never been a country before. We were communities under tribal chiefs," the bishop said, "a monarchy where the whole community would follow one person. "We were clans, tribes, communities all with their own militia. This is the different groups that we are to make a nation from." As he spoke, the civil war continued elsewhere with intense fighting, including tanks and heavy weapons, in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state. A coalition of rebel commanders loosely led by the former vice-president Riek Machar has already taken control of Unity State where much of the new country's oil is produced. If they were to seize oil-producing Upper Nile it would in effect sever the government from control of the country's main economic asset. Later Kiir, the president whose forces have been accused of a violent crackdown, called for an end to tribal-based atrocities on an official Twitter account of South Sudan's government. "Innocent people have been wantonly killed. People are targeting others because of their tribal affiliation. This is unacceptable," he said. "These atrocities recurring have to cease immediately." A Christmas Eve counter-offensive by the national army, the SPLA, succeeded in recapturing Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, but witnesses described finding the streets littered with bodies on Christmas morning. The UN, which has given sanctuary to 17,000 civilians in its base in Bor, said armed men had approached the camp but had been repelled with warning shots by peacekeepers. Officials denied reports that ethnic Nuer were being taken from inside. "No one has or is being taken from the camp," said the UN's Patrick Morrison. In a statement, the South Sudan Council of Churches said: "We are concerned by the consequences for our country of the clashes that are occurring in Juba. There is obviously a political problem between leaders within the governing SPLM, but this should not be turned into an ethnic problem. Sadly, on the ground it is developing into tribalism." Leaders from six of South Sudan's East African neighbours are due to arrive in South Sudan on Boxing Day to try to mediate a ceasefire. Uganda already has troops controlling the airport in Juba and Kenya has said it will provide soldiers to enhance security in the capital. In addition to vying for oil pipeline routes from South Sudan, both countries have major economic interests and large ex-pat communities in the new country. For many South Sudanese such as Bang Teny Wang, the reality of an independent homeland has been a crushing disappointment. After coming home this year from a long exile in Australia, he said, he was now intent on leaving the country after being forced to flee to the UN base in Juba when his neighbourhood was attacked. "I came in March hoping to help reconstruct the country and this is what I get," he said. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/25/south-sudan-bishop-peace-cathedral-refuge END1 2. From a former student of mine in Malakal: I would like to ask whoever is interested in Peace in South Sudan, let's all give special prayers for current situation in South Sudan. My call is, "Dear brothers and sisters before you go to bed or when you wake up in the morning please pray for peace in South Sudan; let's remember the words of God, 'ask and you will be given'". Thank you in Advance for your prayers for South Sudanese people. END2 3. Unity state priest calls for peace in South Sudan December 25, 2013 (BENTIU) - A Catholic priest in Unity state has urged people to discourage the spread of violence across South Sudan’s ten states while addressing a congregation on Monday at Saint Francis Church in Bentiu. Father Joseph Makuey said the Church was deeply concerned about the crisis that has hit South Sudan since 15 December when fighting within the army in the capital Juba, quickly spread to other parts of the country. The dispute between members of the Presidential Guards comes after months of political wrangling between those loyal to President Salva Kiir and a group of 13 senior members of the ruling SPLM who have criticised his failure to hold vital party meetings and his "dictatorial" tendencies. Makuey asked people to pray for peace in the new nation, which became independent from Sudan in 2011. He described the infighting between members of the SPLM as "meaningless" to the people of South Sudan. "The message that I would like to convey to the people of Unity state [...] should continue pray for peace, truly this moment is a critical moment because we have lost many lives in South Sudan but I firmly believe through our prayers almighty God will change this critical situation", added the priest. The commander of the South Sudanese army in Unity state rebelled over the weekend declaring himself as the new governor, siding with Riek Machar - the former Vice President - who Kiir sacked in July. Machar denies the fighting in Juba last week was an attempt to overthrow Kiir but is now leading a rebellion against the government from an unknown location. Both sides have declared a willingness to talk but so far mediation efforts have not been fruitful. The priest urged the leaders of South Sudan to come together as the fighting was result in death and causing inter-communal tensions, not only in Juba where the conflict began, but in Unity and Jonglei, where revenge attacks are believed to have taken place. Makuey says the Church seriously condemns the continuing escalation of the conflicts and is deeply concerned that South Sudan could be heading towards war. The internal disputes between senior SPLM officials should not target innocent people who have no connection with their political interests. Makuey criticised the ruling party for failing to reach a deal to stop the violence from spreading and called on the international community to mediate between the sides. The Parish priest warned civilians against siding with either of the warring parties, urging them to refrain from tribal hatred, adding that all South Sudanese are God’s children. Makuey, who working as a parish priest in Rubkotna county, urged everyone in the state to remain united regardless of their cultural background. The Church’s message during this Christmas season is about peace, he said. The priest has been transporting many members of the Dinka ethnic group to the camp of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Rubkotna county, to protect them from potential reprisal attacks from Nuer youth. The priest reminded leaders to forget about the past. He urged them to unite for the sake of the progress of South Sudan and the people they are supposed to represent. POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR DIALOGUE In first Christmas Day address as leaser of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, called for dialogue to end the conflict around the world, including in South Sudan. "Wars shatter and hurt so many lives!" he said. The pontiff called for "social harmony in South Sudan, where current tensions have already caused numerous victims and are threatening peaceful coexistence in that young state." The Pope also urged for dialogue to end the conflicts in Syria, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq, as well as praying for a "favourable outcome" to the Middle East peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49330 END3 4. Press Statement of the 410th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on the situation in South Sudan LAST UPDATED ON TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 410th meeting held on 24 December 2013, was briefed by the Commission on the evolution of the situation in South Sudan. Council, recalling press statement PSC/PR/BR.(CDIX) adopted at its 409th meeting held on 18 December 2013, as well as the press statement issued by the Chairperson of the Commission on 21 December 2013, reiterated its grave concern at the escalating crisis in South Sudan, which has evolved from a political dispute to an armed conflict, with the prospect of rapidly deteriorating further into ethnic clashes and a full-fledged civil war. Council expressed Africa’s deep dismay and disappointment that the continent’s newest nation should descend so rapidly into internal strife, and at the failure of political leaders in the country to live up to the hopes and aspirations of their citizens and to respond to the goodwill and solidarity expressed by Africa and the rest of the international community. Council expressed special alarm at the escalation of ethnic mobilization by belligerents, and emphasized that such mobilization of ethnic forces has the potential of causing untold human suffering, tearing apart the social fabric of South Sudan in a manner that causes irreparable societal division and damage, and undermining the institutions of government and security, including the cohesion of the national army, and the viability of the South Sudanese State. Council also expressed profound concern at the deepening humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and the plight of civilians exposed to attacks and violence by armed groups. Council strongly condemned the attacks against innocent civilians, including the targeting of ethnic groups and other communities, as well as other violations of human rights, notably against women, children and other vulnerable groups. Council further condemned the attack against a camp of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), on 19 December 2013, in Akobo, which resulted in the death of two peacekeepers, and extended its condolences to the families of the victims, the Government of India and the United Nations. Council reiterated its call for all concerned South Sudanese stakeholders to act in a spirit of patriotism and vision for the greater national interest. Council strongly urged the parties to the conflict to immediately stop ethnic mobilization, and strongly warned all those involved against the dire consequences of their actions. Council also called for an immediate end to any incitement, hostile or ethnic messages, and requested that an opportunity be provided for national figures, religious leaders and others to transmit messages of peace and reconciliation through national media and other appropriate outlets. Council reminded the parties to the conflict in South Sudan of their supreme responsibility of protecting civilians, and urged them to refrain from any actions that endanger civilians, and to facilitate the access and operations of humanitarian agencies and personnel in this respect. Council expressed its full support for the call by the Chairperson of the Commission for an immediate humanitarian truce, as an opportunity to de-escalate the tension and stop the fighting, to provide urgent humanitarian access to civilians in need and to provide an opportunity for the initiation of political dialogue. Council stressed the importance and urgency of an inclusive dialogue on all relevant issues, based on the respect of human rights, the rule of law and constitutional legality, as well as the rejection of the use of force, and underlined that such a dialogue is the only way in which the South Sudanese can address their problems and resolve their differences. In this respect, Council welcomed the expressed commitment of President Salva Kiir Mayardit to unconditionally engage in dialogue, and called on the other side to reciprocate. Council called on the South Sudanese authorities to consider releasing the political personalities currently detained in Juba, in order to facilitate dialogue and to encourage them to contribute positively to the search for a solution. Council reiterated its support to the efforts being exerted by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and welcomed, in this respect, the visit to Juba of a high-level IGAD ministerial delegation, which also included the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security and the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy, as well as the communiqué issued at the end of that visit. Council encouraged the Chairperson of IGAD and the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to pursue efforts aimed at calming the situation and seeking a negotiated peaceful resolution to the conflict. Council welcomed the efforts being made by the UN and other international stakeholders. Council encouraged all relevant states and organizations to use their influence with the South Sudanese stakeholders, so that they bring the current violence to an end and engage in unconditional dialogue. Council looked forward to the adoption by the UN Security Council of a resolution authorizing a temporary increase in the overall force level of UNMIS to support the protection of civilians and the provision of humanitarian assistance. Council further welcomed the efforts of the Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council and encouraged him to pursue and intensify his consultations towards the early convening of a meeting of the Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, bearing in mind the urgency of the situation and the need for an enhanced African engagement and leadership in the search for a lasting solution. http://www.peaceau.org/en/article/press-statement-of-the-410th-meeting-of-the-peace-and-security-council END4 ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan, South Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +27 79 832 8834 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52662 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. 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