The revitalized peace agreement should be fully implemented if South Sudan is to be stable, Bernard Oringa, the Provincial Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan in Torit said.
The Bishop, in a Christmas message delivered Saturday, acknowledged that South Sudan had many orphans, calling on the country’s leaders to shun tribalism and promote love and unity.
“I want to urge the citizens of Torit, Eastern Equatoria and South Sudan that the signed peace [agreement] should not remain on paper. This peace agreement should be brought for everybody to see that there is peace starting from home, to the neighbor and to the public,” Bishop Oringa told the congregation.
“I am crying to the leaders that we have enough orphans. We don’t want to add more orphans again. Who will protect these orphans if we add them again?” he questioned.
The Bishop urged people to work hard by practicing agriculture so that they get enough food to avoid depending on the United Nations in 2019.
He urged refugees to return home to participate in nation-building.
“They should not fear that this country is in the situation they hear from radios and from different statements that there is no peace. Peace is already present in the country, especially after signing of the peace [deal]. Currently people live in peace,” said the Bishop.
He added, “Peace is now there and people should come back to develop the country. If you remain out there, who will develop your country? Nobody. The country will be without people, will not develop, but the little you have done is what we call development.”
In September, President Salva Kiir and several opposition groups, including key opposition leader Riek Machar signed a final peace deal to end the conflict. Under the signed agreement, a new unity government will be formed in May 2019.