In the latest development of the simmering conflict between the world’s newest nation,
South Sudan, and its Northen neighbour Sudan, Juba is asking the United Nations to
impose sanctions on Khartoum.
It says that Sudan is failing to obey a Security
Council resolution calling for an end to hostilities and renewed negotiations with
South Sudan over oil and border disputes.
Meanwhile the UN is warning that
more than half the population of South Sudan are facing food shortages due to the
continuing conflict with Sudan.
Fighting on the border between the two countries
and the shutdown of oil production have had a devastating impact on the South's economy. And
analysts say there are fears the situation in the South, which gained independence
from Sudan last July, is worsening. Linda Bordoni spoke to Father Joseph Callistus
who is based in Juba, but was briefly in Rome to liaeise with colleagues of the Solidarity
with South Sudan organization which has its headquarters near the Vatican.
Father
Joseph, who is director of the Solidarity with South Sudan project explains that it
is a consortion of more than 200 religious congregations involved in capacity-building
in the new nation.
listen ...
Father Joseph
explains that in 2005, when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed, the Conference
of Bishops in Sudan invited the Union of Major Religious Superiors, both men and women
sections in Rome, to come and help uphold and rebuild the new opportunities in South
Sudan. They responded by choosing four areas in which they could help: primary school
teacher training; health training; pastoral work with ongoing formation for laity,
religious, priests and church personal; agriculture.
Fr. Joseph describes the
current situation of impending conflict as sending shock waves of insecurity throughout
the nation. Whilst after the referendum in July, he says, the people had moved into
a period of stability and this was showing with new infrastructures and businesses
starting to flourish, the the current impasse with North Sudan is such that it has
brought instability and insecurity with prices going up, few commodities, people storing
goods and all sorts of things that come with an unstable political situation. What
happens during times of instability, he says, a lot of rumours are spread so there
is a need for assurances.
Fr. Callistus also voices his opinion that the international
community has the responsibility to bring the two sides to the mediating table. Now
he says, there is the opportunity to solve unresolved issues with the international
community present, and he mentions the issues of oil revenue, border demarcation,
the issue of South Sudanese who are living in the North. All issues that have not
been resolved and are bringing uncertainty. He says the international community is
dutybound to take up a role.
Fr. Joseph says the international community also
has a responsibility as regards investment in South Sudan. He says that during the
time of war, the resources of South Sudan were used to generate revenue for the the
Republic of Sudan. Now is the time these resources must be used to help the new country
build its infrastructure, but this can only happened when the above issues are resolved.
As
regards internally displaced people he says that at the moment there are issues in
many other regions of Sudan and South Sudan that are creating instability and the
displacement of people. He mentions South Kordofan, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile, Darfour,
all areas in which people not only are displaced, but they are also attacked, raped,
killed...
Fr. Joseph says the people need help. Education he says is key to
their development. And even if many are living in temporary shelters, Soldidarity
with South Sudan is convinced that education is fundamental for building the future.
He
speaks of the work of Caritas that is distributing aid to the people who are affected,
and expresses concern for the fact that the impending rainy season will create further
emergencies, both in transporting aid and in health conditions in the camps.
Fr
Joseph is convinced that the people of South Sudan has many resources including the
commitment of the people to rebuild their new nation. Many who had left have returned
with the new opportuntiy and he says South Sudan can rebuild its self as a prosperous
new nation with the right accompaniment and help.
As regards the Bishops Conference
of Sudan, fr Joseph says the Bishops of Sudan are remarkable spiritual leaders. It
is because of their efforts that self-determination was possible. South Sudan has
7 dioceses whereas the North has 2. After independence the bishops decided to keep
the conference united, operating though separate diocese in both countries.
He
says the bishops of Sudan are busy implementing the post synodal document following
the 2009 Synod of Bishops for Africa. In particular seeing to it that in all the dioceses
follow through in their pastoral formation with a series of issues the document calls
for such as pastoral reconciliation, justice and peace, inter-tribal living, accountability
and transparency: all of them important issues that this document calls for.
He
says the government of South Sudan respects the Church and supports the work of Solidarity
with South Sudan. It considers the Church "the mother of education." But he says
the Church is also the prophetic voice in South Sudan and the governement is listening.
At the moment he says, it is a good combination.
Fr Joseph is convinced that
South Sudan can develop into a beacon for Africa, a nation based on respect for human
rights, the search for common good, the upholding of justice.
Finally Fr Joseph
remembers the prayer campaign called 101 days of prayer that helped create an opportunity
for a new imagination for the people of South Sudan as they strived for independence.
Today he says, there is a new opportunity to accompany this new nation with prayer.
He speaks of the power of prayer and asks all to accompany South Sudan in prayer.