The Pope, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields ended this February 5, 2023, a three-day visit to S.S, a country independent since 2011 and which sank in the civil war in 2013. What impact can it have on the resolution of South Sudanese conflicts and in particular that which opposes President Salva Kiir to his Vice-President Riek Machar?
Pope Francis concluded the visit to South Sudan on February 5, 2023. His “ecumenical travels for peace” to the world’s most youthful country began on Friday, February 3, attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and the head of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields.
Time and again during this visit, Pope Francis has hammered home his call for peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.
“Religious leaders have urged South Sudanese to act”
For Jok Madut Jok, professor of anthropology and founder of the Sudd Institute, a South Sudanese research center, it is not a question of passively waiting for “divine intervention”: “In my opinion, religious leaders have in fact called on the South Sudanese to act. They suggested to the Church in South Sudan to reach out to the people, to help them organize themselves to fight against the current political and economic situation, and against the war. The Church must create the conditions for citizens to make their voices heard. »