AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - New peace initiative announced by the Church on the anniversary of independence

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church has announced a new initiative of mediation to bring peace to South Sudan, which since December 2013 has been devastated by a civil war between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar.
The announcement was made by His Exc. Mgr. Paolino Lukudu Loro, Archbishop of Juba, during a moment of prayer dedicated to the fourth anniversary of the independence of South Sudan.
According to reports from Radio Bakhita, Mgr. Lukudu stressed that the two South Sudanese leaders have so far ignored the appelas of the Church to restore peace. Because of them, added the Archbishop of Juba, it is a time of weeping and mourning, and not of celebration.
Mgr. Lukudu invited the two leaders not leave the country in chaos when they disappear from the political scene and concluded by appealing to all South Sudanese to think of South Sudan as a nation. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/07/2015)