The Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, appealed to Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin to use the new position to push for the resumption of Rome talks between the government and the holdout groups.
Negotiations between the government and the now-non-signatories South Sudanese Opposition Group (NSSSOG) began in 2019 but have failed to stop violence in some parts of the country, despite a ceasefire signed in January 2020.
With efforts from the Community of Sant’Egidio, Rome talks have remained fruitless, with parties holding on to their positions of disagreement due to a lack of trust.
But in a statement seen by The City Review, Yakani asserted that Ameyu’s new position would be useful in bridging the gap and ensuring that inclusive peace prevails in South Sudan.
“This appointment of Dr. Mula as cardinal should act as an opportunity for the renewal of the political pledge for the resumption of the South Sudan Rome Peace Talks between the government and non-signatories to the R-ARCSS,” Yakani said.
He said that Rome peace talks remain stalled due to a lack of political will and a trust deficit among leaders.
“Rome Peace Talks is suffering from political indiscipline and a lack of political maturity from the conflicting parties,” he said.
He welcomed and congratulated His Eminence Ameyu, saying his new position would put the Catholic Church in the right position to effectively participate in peace reconciliation.
“It offers the Catholic Church in South Sudan an influential position for supporting human growth and development in a peaceful and stable society,” he said.
He added that Ameyu’s rise to the position of Cardinal will remain a blessing to South Sudan, and he showed acknowledgement from Pope Francis to South Sudan believers.
Yakani called on the faith-based leaders to embark on engaging South Sudan leaders to give peace a chance.
“Faith-based leaders have a greater opportunity of pressuring our political leaders and elites to give peace and stability a chance for the genuine human growth and development of society,” he said.
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