Crisis- hit South Sudan Episcopal church calls for government intervention as wrangle deepens
The top leadership of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) on Wednesday urged the national government to intervene and resolve the conflict with it’s rival faction in Bor town of Jonglei state.
Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, said the closure of St. Peter’s Parish church by supporters of the defrocked bishop, Ruben Akurdid Ngong has denied Christians chance to enjoy freedom of worship as stipulated in the constitution.
“We call upon the government to immediately give orders for our church in Bor to be opened for worship as soon as possible, and give freedom to all ECSS bishops, clergy and faithful to operate freely in Bor town,” Badi told journalists during a press conference held in Bor on Wednesday.
Badi’s remarks came in the aftermath of police arresting 27 people last week, following violent clashes between supporters of defrocked bishop Ruben Akurdid Ngong and those loyal to Moses Anur Ayom, Archbishop of Jonglei Internal Province over the management of St. Peter’s Parish church.
Ayom recently accused politicians of fanning the violence that occurred in St. Peter’s Parish in Langbaar. B suburb of Bor town.
“The ECSS strongly condemns the current torture of priests and closure of the church by chiefs, community leaders and youth in Bor. It is now over three years that the ECSS leaders have continued to be humiliated, tortured and restricted to move and worship freely by youth and local authorities in Bor town,” Badi said.
“The ECSS leadership is displeased with the failure of the government to provide equal rights and protection to ECSS like other churches and denominations in Bor town,” he added.
Maj.Gen.Elia Costa, the police commissioner for Jonglei state, said they recently confronted heavily armed youth in Bor town who support the faction led by Akurdid.
“Our police was there to prevent the armed youth, but they insisted. The situation nearly created problem between community and the police because they are coming with heavy guns,” Costa said.
“Ours is to keep order and security, this issue is in the office of the President so the office of the president is the one to find out how to resolve it,” he added.
Last week, community leaders and chiefs mainly from Makuach mobilized heavily armed youth to forcefully close St. Peter’s church whose faithful are loyal to Moses Anur Ayom, Archbishop of Jonglei Internal Province.
