South Sudan bishop: Stand for peace!

(Vatican Radio) South Sudan hopes to resume oil production in September after reaching an interim agreement with Sudan on oil export fees, but it may take a year to return to full capacity, its top negotiator said on Tuesday.

The two countries agreed on Friday on how much South Sudan should pay to export its oil through northern pipelines, ending a dispute that led to the shutdown in January of South Sudan's output of 350,000 barrels per day.

The deal marked a step towards ending hostilities between the African nations, which came close to a war in April when border fighting escalated in the worst violence since South Sudan became independent a year ago.

The violence between the two nations has led to calls from religious leaders to work for peace and reconciliation. “Our role as shepherds, as pastors, as a church. Our role in this particular era of our country is really standing for peace. We tell people to stand for peace, and to avoid war,” says Bishop Erkolano Lodu Tombe of Yei, in South Sudan. He spoke with Vatican Radio about the role of the Bishops in the peace process.

Bishop Lodu Tombe says his people must strive not only for peace between Sudan and South Sudan, but also amongst themselves: “Now, we speak of war, maybe, between possibly north and south, but even wars within ourselves, fights among ourselves, killings among ourselves. This, again we tell the people: It is un-Christian, it is unfair, and it does not contribute to the building up of a nation.”

Years of fighting, including fighting among themselves, has led to a “spirit of revenge” in the hearts and minds of many poor people. “So not only peace,” he says, “but also we speak of reconciliation. Let us be reconciled with one another! It is possible, however difficult it may be. Without reconciliation, there will be no real peace.”

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