President Salva Kiir Wednesday called on churches to play a greater role in maintaining peace and harmony within the South Sudan communities.
In his address during the inauguration ceremony of the Presbyterian Church in Juba, Kiir stressed the need for the church to play an active role in restoring peace and stability.
“The Church was not donated to you for any other purposes. It is only for prayers. Your church has been playing a major role in peace. I want you to continue playing the role you have been playing in peace, so that South Sudan remains as peaceful as it was,” Kiir said.
Kiir added: “In recognition of the church’s role in our society, we include faith-based leaders, in peace and reconciliation to work with political leaders, to find solutions to our national problems.
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Rev James Makuei Chuol, said the church is the only institution that can bring peace, unity, forgiveness and reconciliation for the people of South Sudan.
“The construction of St Lawrence Presbyterian Church, by your Excellency, is a testament that the President of the Republic of South Sudan is a practising Christian. Again, it is the only institution that will bring peace, unity, forgiveness, reconciliation for the people of South Sudan to put aside their past and forge a way forward to a common destiny and share a vision as a fulfillment of our aspirations,” Makuei said.
The new structure, built by President Kiir, has the capacity to host 3,000 worshippers.
Reacting to Kiir’s invitation by the Presbyterian Church, the advocacy group, Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), accused the Church of bias for inviting the president while excluding his first deputy Riek Machar.
“CPA notes that the Presbyterian Church has chosen to invite President Salva Kiir Mayardit alone, without extending an invitation to 1st Vice President Dr Riek Machar, who is also a member of the Presbyterian Church. Yesterday presented a great opportunity for both the President and the 1st Vice President to promote peace, justice, truth, and reconciliation among the citizens of South Sudan, who have been deeply divided due to prolonged civil wars between North and South Sudan, as well as the conflicts in South Sudan in 2013 and 2016,” the group said in a statement. CPAA’s Executive Director Ter Manyang called on the Presbyterian Church in South Sudan to adhere to the core global principles of the Church, including neutrality and impartiality.