The UN has recognized that the Churches have played and are playing a critical role to promote peace in South Sudan.
Hilde Jonhson, the head of UNMISS, the UN Mission in South Sudan, Wednesday told Catholic and Anglican bishops holding a meeting in Yei that the Churches are a key partner in peace building in the country.
She said the Churches were instrumental to make peace among South Sudan communities during the war and their role is still far reaching after independence.
Ms Johnson asked the bishops to tell their flocks that the UN did not abandon or betray South Sudan.
She recognized that the UNMISS protection mandate has been questioned, especially because the peacekeepers did not protect civilians from Sudanese air attacks.
Ms Johnson explained that the UNMISS mandate is to support South Sudan to build a strong state and not to monitor borders or cross border incidents.
She added that the main threat to South Sudan comes from inter-communal violence and the peacekeepers have placed most of their resources to protect civilians in tribal and other internal clashes.
She added that there are at least 300,000 people displaced by inter-communal violence in South Sudan.
The head of UNMISS told the bishops that the UN did not take any decision on disputed areas between South Sudan and Sudan.
She added that territorial claims have to be negotiated through peaceful means and not by force.
Ms Johnson explained that the resolution approved by unanimity in the UN Security Council on May 3 lays out the roadmap for peace between South Sudan and Sudan.
She emphasized that Security Council asked the head of IGAD, the Intergovernmental Authority for Development, to take a more central role to bring the peace process forward.
Ms Johnson, a Lutheran Christian, asked to meet the Catholic and Anglican bishops, in order for them to provide leadership during what she called √É’very trying and testing times.’
The bishops started Wednesday a three-day meeting to strengthen ecumenical ties between the Catholic and Episcopal Church of Sudan leadership.