The IGAD assembly on March 12, 2025, urged support for reconciliation initiatives in South Sudan from religious and civil leaders due to escalating violence and security concerns. They reinforced the significance of grassroots dialogues and the inclusion of women and youth in peace efforts. Cardinal Ameyu expressed hope regarding the Tumaini Peace Initiative, emphasizing the Church’s role in fostering unity and addressing conflicts.
On March 12, 2025, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened an Extraordinary Assembly, emphasizing the need for unifying efforts in South Sudan. The assembly urged faith-based leaders, civil society members, and traditional figures to endorse reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. The statement recognized grassroots peace dialogues as vital paths to harmony following South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in July 2011.
IGAD’s member states, comprising leaders from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, highlighted their concerns regarding the escalating security crises within South Sudan. The region has experienced increased violence and a breakdown of ceasefire commitments, reinforcing the necessity for dialogue as the only effective means to resolve existing conflicts.
The IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, reported troubling developments in security, particularly following a significant incident on March 4, 2025, when 6,000 combatants from the white army attacked a South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) encampment. The subsequent escalation culminated in a tragic loss of life during a UN Mission operation on March 7, prompting urgent calls for reconciliation efforts to defuse tensions.
To counteract the deterioration of conditions, the IGAD assembly stressed the importance of collaborative actions, particularly around the Tumaini Initiative, which aims for the inclusion of non-signatories in the peace agreement and attempts to unite various communities against divisive perceptions. Religious leaders have spearheaded many of these peace-building initiatives in South Sudan.
On December 20, 2024, Cardinal Stephene Ameyu from the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba expressed hope in the Tumaini Peace Initiative despite historical skepticism regarding peace accords in the region. He underscored the Church’s role as a mediator in conflicts and recognized the importance of collective efforts in establishing lasting peace, stating, “If we address these conflicts, peace will prevail in South Sudan.”
The IGAD assembly has distinctly outlined the urgent need for unified efforts in supporting reconciliation initiatives in South Sudan amidst alarming security concerns. By advocating for grassroots dialogues and the inclusion of marginalized groups, there is potential for groundbreaking progress in peace-building. The commitment of religious leaders and the positive outlook of faith initiatives like Tumaini underscore the critical role of civil society in navigating towards a peaceful future for South Sudan.
Original Source: www.aciafrica.org
