Caritas Internationalis says independence for South Sudan marks a
moment of hope after decades of war and the loss of millions of lives.
The Republic of South Sudan became independent from the rest of Sudan
on Saturday, July 9 2011, under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
negotiated in 2005.
Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Michel
Roy was in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, for independence day
celebrations.
He said, “Independence marks the end of a long walk to
freedom for the people of South Sudan. Millions of lives have been
sacrificed on that journey and millions more have been forced from their
homes.”
“Caritas and our Catholic Church partners have walked with them,
trying to bring divided communities together, providing humanitarian
relief and supporting development programmes and urging governments to
ensure international support for the peace process.”
Roy continued, “Few believed we would see this day, and it is a
testament to the faith-filled lives of those who have made it possible.
The people of South Sudan and their brothers and sisters in northern
Sudan have shown that peace is possible. We now have the opportunity to
chart a common future based on a just peace and development that they
deserve.”
“Caritas is committed to working with the people of South Sudan.
Providing basic needs such as clean water, health, and food will be the
immediate priority. Caritas also aims to increase long-term assistance
that lifts people out of poverty and builds a diverse economy through
education, agriculture, providing livelihoods and rebuilding
infrastructure. Development is the new name for peace, and without an
end to the conflict neither South Sudan nor Sudan will prosper.
Significant strides have been made in consolidating the progress made to
date through supporting development, but challenges remain.”
“Many of the key provisions of the peace deal have not yet been
implemented. The international community must ensure all of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement is fully realised. Failure to do so has
already led to an outbreak of violence in the border area. Caritas
calls for an immediate end to the violence in Abyei and the Nuba
Mountains in Southern Kordofan.”
“Caritas condemns the increasing number of inter-ethnic clashes in
the region, and the ongoing attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army
(LRA). The people of Darfur still suffer, and this suffering and
insecurity must be resolved to bring peace and development to the
region. The violence has been marked by an increase in abuse, rape and
the killing of women, the elderly and children. Caritas urges both
governments in Khartoum and Juba to protect their citizens and ensure
those responsible for crimes face justice. The governments in Sudan and
South Sudan must also protect the rights of minorities, particularly
the religious and ethnic minorities historically marginalised.”
Caritas members working side-by-side with Sudanaid (Caritas Sudan)
and national and diocesan Church partners have launched a joint
coordinated programme to provide basic needs to vulnerable people.
The programme also includes developing local Church institutions so
they can continue the work into the future. Caritas is also supporting
local peace building, preparing for future emergencies and backing a
global prayer campaign.
Meanwhile, the Sudan Tribune reported, “A massive of number
of people in Unity State celebrated South Sudan’s independence on
Saturday hoping that separation would herald a new era of development,
free from corruption.”
While acknowledging that, as a result of decades of conflict, South
Sudan is severely under-developed with corruption a major problem. The
Unity state minimiser for animal resources and fisheries told crowds in
Bentui “July 9 was a joyful day of freedom.”
He told the crowd “Independence would bring to an end to
marginalisation among South Sudanese people, one of the causes of the 21
year civil war. South Sudan has been at war with Khartoum for most of
Sudan’s independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956.”
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between the ruling
party of the North - the NCP - and SPLM split southern oil 50-50.
Unity
State has been one of the richest oil producing state in South Sudan,
and receives two per cent of oil revenues.
However, despite this little
development has taken place in the last six years.