The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese John Baptist Odama has called on South Sudan rebel leader Dr Riek Machar to ‘repent’ to God for plunging South Sudan into conflict that has since left hundreds dead while millions are displaced in neighboring countries.
Bishop Odama said Dr Machar should take the route of dialogue and reconciliation to end the conflict in South Sudan.
“Use of guns and violence are not good ways of solving grievances, knowing God and dialoging is a rightful way to settle disputes,” Bishop Odama said while giving his end of year message in a press conference at Holy Rosary Parish in Gulu town on Thursday.
The Bishop said Dr Machar was a peace loving person citing his role as a chief negotiator in the peace talk between Ugandan government and the LRA between 2006 and 2008 which is credited for bringing peace in northern Uganda after two decades of conflict.
During the talks, Dr Machar was still South Sudan’s Vice President.
“During the peace talk, Machar spoke of peace and Unity, he wanted Uganda to be peaceful. But now, he has turned the fights on his own people, he should repent for his sins to God and seek dialogue to end bloodshed in his country,” said Bishop Odama.
South Sudan plunged into chaos in July this year following clashes between the Sudan’s People Liberation Army soldiers of President Salva Kiir and South Sudanese armed opposition led by Dr Machar.
Dr Machar was sworn in as South Sudan’s first vice president in April to end a long standing conflict that erupted in December 2013 following his sacking by president Kiir over alleged coup plotting.
Bishop Odama said South Sudan’s instability is a burden as well to Uganda citing thousands of refugees currently being hosted in the country and collapse of businesses between the two countries.
In his New Year message, Bishop Odama also emphasized the need by the Uganda government to ensure peace and unity reign amongst citizens in 2017.
The Bishop made the remarks on Thursday while addressing journalists from Holy Rosary Parish ahead of the 12th Gulu provincial prayer peace week slated for January 9 to January 13 at Kaunda grounds in Gulu town.
The prayer peace week organized by the ecclesiastical province of Gulu [Arua, Nebbi, Lira and Gulu Archdiocese] is expected to attract over 10,000 Christians under the theme “Non-Violence: A style of Politics for peace”.
According to Bishop Odama, the prayer peace week will focus on prejudice, community peace, identifying critical barriers to achieving peace and celebrating Unity in diversity among others.
“We have been having challenges uniting especially Christians from Acholi and West Nile sub-region, in this peace prayer week, we expect the conflicting tribes to unite and foster long standing relationship,” he said.
