“Let the power of love overcome the love of power so that people in the world can live in peace.”
– The Rev Joseph Elhag, general manager of the Sudanese Development and Relief Agency (SUDRA) of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan.
[CMS] Monday 15 December is the anniversary of the outbreak of conflict between the government of South Sudan, led by the president, Salva Kiir, and the opposition led by Riek Machar.
Please join in prayer this Sunday 14 December for lasting peace in South Sudan.
According to the most recent reports this week, there is peace in nearly all parts of South Sudan at present but many problems remain.
Peace talks
Other issues
- There are some rebel groups who are not aligned to either side and causing insecurity. There is also some interclan fighting (not associated with the political conflict) in the Rumbek area.
- There are still an estimated 1.9 million people displaced.
- There is a looming famine in South Sudan as crops have not been planted due to the conflict.
Give thanks for:
- The current relatively peaceful situation
- The work of SUDRA bringing food relief to displaced people and beginning a programme of rehabilitation through peace building initiatives, trauma healing training and economic empowerment
- Some people from Internally Displaced People's camps in Bor are returning to their homes.
Pray for:
- Peace – that the government and opposition will make a peace agreement and find a way forward to maintain peace
- More people to be able to return to their homes
- All those who have been and are affected by this conflict - the families who have lost loved ones, those in IDP camps
The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan have published a communique from their recent meeting in November, which calls yet again for the warring parties to work together for the sake of the people:
"We reaffirm our commitment to peace and reconciliation and the healing of the wounds of the past and present in our people's hearts. The people of South Sudan had suffered beyond description for many years in the hands of governments in the old Sudan but now the people of South Sudan continue to suffer in the hands of their own political leaders - the government of South Sudan and the rebels. We want to inform the warring parties that our people are tired of war and they urgently need peace and development.
"To achieve peace the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan is embracing just peace for all, asking our political leaders to allow peace to come soon and accept one another as one people in one nation. We continue to urge our leaders to implement the agreements signed so far. May the Almighty God deliver us from the powers of darkness and continue to bless South Sudan and Sudan."