AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Elections postponed: a contribution towards peace

Thursday, 19 February 2015

Juba (Agenzia Fides) – A positive development in the interest of peace in the country. This was how Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kusala, of Tombura-Yambio, interviewed by Radio Anisa, viewed the postponement on the part of the government of South Sudan of general elections which had been scheduled for June this year. According to Bishop Kusala, during a recent Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of South Sudan concern was expressed regarding the difficulties which could arise were the government to insist on holding the elections planned for the coming Summer.
The Bishop said the “wise” decision will allow a census of the population, the drafting of a definitive Constitution and time to tackle the problems of the transition period, so elections can be held in more stable conditions.
South Sudan is striving to find a way out of the civil war which started in December 2013 between two factions of the party in power SPLM (Sudan’s People Liberation Movement), led respectively by President Salva Kiir and former vice President Riek Machar (see Fides 7/2/2015).
Bishop Kusala has urged the faithful to pray during Lent for peace in the country and to facilitate national peace-building by giving first place to collective interests rather than mere personal interests. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/2/2015)


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