(NP Photo)
JUBA – Leaders of the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) have called on the top leadership in the country to restrain their forces and stop fighting from escalating further.
Fighting broke out in Juba on Thursday during preparations for the fifth independence anniversary of the world’s newest country. Salva Kiir, South Sudan President, and James Wani Igga, Vice president during a press conference at Presidential palace in Juba, South Sudan, after fighting started erupted when a group of unidentified soldiers tried to enter the palace.
In a statement issued this week beginning, the leadership says it condemns the latest upsurge of violence.
“We, the leaders of the Church in South Sudan, are extremely disturbed about the fatal shootings which occurred in Juba on the evenings of 7th and 8th July 2016 and the morning of 10th July. We make no judgement as to how or why they occurred, nor who is to blame, but we note with concern that there have been a number of incidents recently, and that tension is increasing,” partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
“We condemn all acts of violence without exception. The time for carrying and using weapons has ended; now is the time to build a peaceful nation,” they said.
The statement urged repentance and a firm commitment from all armed individuals, forces and communities, and from their leaders, to create an atmosphere where violence is not an option.
They however commended the earlier statements coming out from the leadership which called for calm.
“We are encouraged by the statements from both President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar calling for calm. We add our voices to theirs, and urge soldiers and civilians to refrain from provocative words and actions, and to do everything in their power to avoid escalating the situation.”
With this at hand, the President of Uganda Yoweri K. Museveni has ordered the evacuation of all Ugandans trapped in South Sudan.
This affirmation was made public on Tuesday by the Government spokesperson Mr Ofwono Opondo who tweeted saying “President Museveni has ordered the evacuation of Ugandans in in Nisitu, east of R. Nile S.Sudan by road.”
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
