PRESS STATEMENT AT THE END OF CAPA PRIMATES SOLIDALITY VISIT TO SOUTH SUDAN
22 -26 SEPTEMBER 2016
On behalf of the Anglican Primates of Africa and the envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, we are most grateful to the Archbishop of The Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan and his colleagues; the Government officials including His Excellency the President, the Vice President, The right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, all the people of South Sudan for their warm welcome during our solidarity visit.
We came to express our solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters of South Sudan.
We came to hear from you, to learn from your experience, about your efforts at restoring peace, the challenges you face and how we and the world can come along side you in your journey to peace. We also wanted to hear specific suggestions to consider for this journey.
We came to explore ways of bringing on board all well-wishers who we can work with in bringing our influence and resources to bear on the events in this country.
We affirm all the efforts of our fellow religious leaders in their respective communities as well as through the auspices of the South Sudan Council of Churches in peace building efforts and responding to the humanitarian needs of those displaced.
We recognize the efforts of Government in seeking to fulfil their mandate of keeping law and order, ministering justice and stabilizing the Country. We note the current challenges in implementing the Peace agreement but plead with those involved to be magnanimous and to allow the common good to guide their decisions and choices so that they don’t fail the nation.
We plead with the International community not to give up but work more decisively in view of the suffering populations and the strategic positions that South Sudan occupies in stabilizing the rest of Africa.
We appeal to the citizens of South Sudan to put up a high premium on national solidarity beyond ethnic and political party royalties. National building is a collective effort and makes demands and exerts certain responsibilities on all citizens.
Conclusion
We leave South Sudan with a heavy hear regarding the on-going suffering of our brothers and sisters in this beloved country. However we are believing God is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. (Eph 3.20) .We are committed as part of the Faith fraternity to pray and to work with all people of goodwill towards moving from mere words of resolve to investing in processes that will lead to the rebuilding of peaceful, cohesive, just and thriving communities in South Sudan.
1.ARCHBISHOP ALBERT CHAMA, CHAIRMAN OF CAPA AND PRIMATE OF CENTRAL AFRICA
2.ARCHBISHOP ONESPHORE RWAJE, PRIMATE OF RWANDA
3.ARCHBISHOP JACKSON NASOORE OLE SAPIT , PRIMATE OF KENYA
4.ARCHBISHOP MARTIN NYABOHO, PRIMATE OF BURUNDI
5.BISHOP CHARLES ODURKAMI, DEAN OF THE PROVINCE OF THE CHURCH OF UGANDA
6.BISHOP PRECIOUS OMUKU, ENVOY OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
7.REV. CANON GRACE KAISO, CAPA GENERAL SECRETARY
