Catholic Church leaders urged the South Sudan Unity Government to expedite the implementation of the remaining tasks on the revitalized agreement.
The Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Juba, Stephen Ameyo speaking on behalf of his colleagues during a media briefing in Juba.
He appealed to South Sudan leaders to finish the Constitutions making process, the Unification of the National Armed, and their deployment.
“We appeal to the Transitional Government of National Unity to expedite the finalization of the Constitutions making process, the creation of one and unified National Armed Forces and their deployment,” Archbishop highlighted.
The Catholic Clerics also demanded that the country conduct a Population Census and find a quick and durable solution for the return of IDPs and returnees from the neighboring countries.
Archbishop Stephen Ameyo stated that when all these processes are conducted in time, it will lead to fair, transparent, and credible elections.
Ameyo advises South Sudan leaders to vividly remember the words of the Holy Father Pope Francis during the ecumenical visits in February this year.
“Dear friends, it is time to move from words to deeds. It is time to turn a new page; it is the time for commitment to an urgent and much-needed transformation,” the statement of the Pope reads.
The archbishop also emphasizes that “Peace is a common good, and therefore I appeal and encourage all the Sudanese and South Sudanese people to work for peace and shun violence.”
Stephen Ameyo recalls that South Sudan is heading to the end of the political transition period amidst inter-communal violence that has engulfed the nation.
Archbishop Ameyo warns that the deadline of December 2024 is fast closing and the slow pace of the implementation of the peace agreement is worrying.
The Church leaders said there is still more work to do in the implementation of the milestones provided for in the R-ARCSS implementation matrix.