Bishop Cannon Paul Ajith has been arrested along with four other clergymen by the authorities in Bor Town in Jonglei State amidst a heated dispute within the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) over leadership and authority.
The prelate who was recently appointed as Bishop Commissary by Primate Dr. Justin Badi, finds himself at the center of controversy from a dispute that stems from the resignation of Bishop Joh Manyom, who was previously the bishop of the ECSS Malek Diocese. However, Bishop Manyon disputes the validity of his resignation, leading to a rift within the church hierarchy.
In a letter addressed to Primate Badi, Bishop Manyon announced his departure from Badi’s leadership and declared his alignment with renegade Archbishop Ruben Akurdid.
Bishop Ajith, speaking exclusively to Radio Tamazuj, expressed shock at his arrest. “I have been taken into custody along with four of my pastors,” he stated. “Our arrest is illegal because there should be freedom of worship.”
Ajith further implicated Gabriel Panchol Anyang, the deputy chairperson of the Kolonyang Community, as the driving force behind his arrest.
Archbishop Ruben Akurdid, despite being defrocked by Primate Justin Badi in 2020, remains a powerful figure in the breakaway Bor Diocese. His actions have drawn attention, particularly his unauthorized consecration of several bishops in Bor County.