Two Church leaders issued in Juba their Christmas messages calling for the removal of death penalty in the Constitution, transparency and an end to tribal conflicts and insecurity in South Sudan.
Addressing the press today, the Catholic Archbishop of Juba Paolino Lukudu Loro said the Church will advocate for the elimination of death penalty as punishment for extremely serious offences in the permanent Constitution.
Archbishop Lukudu also brought up South Sudan’s huge economic potential like oil, fertile soil, water, minerals and wood.
He said transparency during the management of these resources must be enforced to avoid corruption which he likens it to murder because the result of diverting public funds for private use could possibly lead to some people dying due to lack of basic services.
In another press gathering, the head of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bull said the Church is concerned with serious insecurity issues that plague the country.
He spoke of the inter-tribal conflicts, rebellions, the foreign LRA and armed banditry.
Archbishop Deng called on the Government to take serious steps to stop loss of life and property.
Both archbishops urged patience among South Sudanese whom they said expect a lot to happen within a short time.
Although they acknowledged that the peoples’ expectations are legitimate, they warned of political uncertainties and crises after over 50 years of war.
The two archbishops called on the communities to allow peace and development to prevail.