Update: Wednesday, Dec. 18
As many as 500 people have died in South Sudan since Sunday, according to media reports. The government is blaming soldiers loyal to Riek Machar, the sacked deputy of President Salva Kiir.
But Machar, speaking to the BBC, has denied the accusation that he attempted a coup. Reports today indicate that the violence has declined significantly as government forces have reasserted control over the nation, split from Sudan in 2011.
Eight top religious leaders with the South Sudan Council of Churches on Tuesday, issued a public letter, offering to mediate any disputes between Kiir and Machar, who was dismissed this past July. The tribal overtones are very strong.
The leaders said:
There is a political problem between leaders within the SPLM. This should not be turned into an ethnic problem. Sadly, on the ground it is developing into tribalism. This must be defused urgently before it spreads. Reconciliation is needed between the political leaders. Violence is not an acceptable way of resolving disputes. This must be done in a peaceful and civilised manner. Reconciliation is at the heart of the Church's ministry, a key Gospel value, and so we offer ourselves as mediators.
Other recent CT articles on South Sudan:
South Sudan Starts New Bible Society
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Tues., Dec. 17
After a failed coup attempt in South Sudan on Sunday night, a top Christian leader from East Africa is calling for a "Mandela moment" in which President Salva Kiir and former deputy Riek Machar would break off hostilities and resolve their differences peacefully.
Speaking from Geneva where she was at the WCC headquarters for weekend meetings and to attend a Monday morning Mandela memorial, Dr. Agnes Abuom, a Kenyan, said, "This is really a Mandela moment" for South Sudan. "Just when we have laid Mandela to rest and we are celebrating his life of forgiveness and reconciliation, of justice, of freedom, of the capacity to be content and to be inclusive: this is really a lesson for South Sudan", she said.
Tuesday morning, there were reports of extensive gunfire in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and thousands of people were fleeing the city. The government of South Sudan put in place a dusk-to-dawn curfew to reduce the risk of further violence. Initial reports say that as many as 26 people have been killed.
Today, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that 16,000 people have sought refuge in the main UN compound, according to Toby Lanzer, assistant secretary general of the United Nations, via Twitter (@tobylanzer). This morning, Hilde F. Johnson, UN special representative in Juba, indicated ethnic tensions were a factor in the attempted coup.
"At a time when unity among South Sudanese is more needed than ever, I call on the leaders of this new country and all political factions and parties, as well as community leaders to refrain from any action that fuels ethnic tensions and exacerbates violence."
Tensions between the dominant Dinka tribe and other groups, such as the Nuer, have soured the political climate as South Sudan has struggled to run the new nation of 11 million. One of South Sudan's top Christian leaders is Anglican Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, primate of Sudan. He has been a steady advocate for ethnic reconciliation. Kiir named the archbishop as chairman of the national committee on reconciliation. In July, Archbishop Deng issued a statement calling for forgiveness. He wrote that extending forgiveness was a "bitter pill" that South Sudanese need to swallow.
"We have to swallow our pride for the sake of the survival of our young nation. The pride of tribe, of clan, of class, of creed, of political party, and of personal ambition must not obscure the focus on the future of our nation. We cannot have fellowship without forgiveness, reconciliation and healing. We need to exercise mercy towards each other."
CT will update this story as events develop.
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