Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has made a Solidarity Visit to South Sudan this week with the message of PEACE, calling for an immediate cessation of fire and hostilities among the People of South Sudan.
The delegates left Nairobi for Juba, South Sudan on Thursday 23 January 2014 carrying the Message of Peace to be delivered on behalf of AMECEA Chairman Most Rev Tarcisio Ziyaye, Archbishop of Lilongwe, Malawi that was read on the 24 January to the Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan gathering for an extraordinary Plenary meeting from 21 to 30 January 2014 and to the Government of South Sudan.
The Team is comprised of Most Rev John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese (Uganda); Most Rev Berhaneyesus Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa Archdiocese (Ethiopia) and Rt Rev Phillip Anyolo, Bishop of Homa Bay Diocese (Kenya). The delegates are accompanied by Very Rev Fr Ferdinand Lugonzo, AMECEA Secretary General.
In the message, AMECEA is appealing for immediate and unconditional cessation of all hostilities in the entire country of South Sudan; expansion of the table of negotiations; to the warring parties and asks all the politicians to soften their positions in the interest of saving lives.
An appeal is also made to the concerned parties, the regional stakeholders and the international community to ensure that corridors for humanitarian access to the displaced populations are opened and security provided for those offering emergency services.
“Let the international community know that there is a moral obligation to intervene on behalf of the many people in South Sudan whose very survival is threatened and whose basic human rights are seriously violated. We urge the nations of the world to support the initiative of Caritas Internationalis and all other organizations involved in providing humanitarian and relief services,” the message read.
The message finally urges all Christians around the world to pray for a lasting solution to the crisis in South Sudan and the fruit of lasting peace and unity in the country.
SOURCE: AMECEA Social Communications
