Prayers for Healing and Reconciliation in South Sudan

St. Pope John XXIII

PASTOR WITH A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR! HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO LISTEN TO THE WORLD AND DARED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS AND DOORS OF THE CHURCH AND WELCOME THE WORLD IN ALL ITS GLORY AND WEAKNESS...

Short Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (A)

Dhikr for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (A): “We have seen the Lord…”

Readings: Acts 2: 42-47; 1 Peter 1: 3-9; John 20: 19-31

Text: Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." (John 20: 24-25)

Meditation: In life, we behave like Thomas. We do not believe unless we, too, put our fingers into the nail marks in Jesus’ body. Yet our faith lies NOT in seeing but on the testimony of believers… We accept the testimony, because we recognize the trustworthiness and integrity of the witnesses… Today, we are the witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection! Are we trustworthy witnesses…? (Bapa Jun)

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.
2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...
3rd step: Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

The Bishop of Nuba Mountains and his Easter Message

An Easter Message from Bishop Andudu - Nuba mountains

John Chapter 20

The disciples, where threatened by the arrest and the death of Jesus,
they were so afraid and locked themselves in a room in great fear and
hopelessness. They thought that this was going to be the end of their
faith and the faith of Christians. The women were crying, they could
not save Jesus from the hands of the people who had arrested Him,
their teacher was killed, they witnessed everything, he died on the
cross between two criminals (the bad people the thieves) yet he did
not do anything to justify his death or deserve the death he received.
But it was all about you and me to be forgiven and saved.

His death was known to the people in the city, it was the bad news of
the week, the one who heals, feeds and teaches the people, the one who
confronts the evil and the leaders of the community with the truth was
killed. Evil seems like it is too strong in that week, death was
victorious, and it is the most feared enemy of the human being until
it was refitted.

Many of people including disciples and women thought it was over they
should find a way of going back to fishing or find any other work, and
it would have been the end of the Christian faith.

In the time of fear, frustration and hopelessness of Jesus followers
good news was brought by a woman that Jesus was resurrected and is
alive. The disciples rushed to the Tomb, it was true the tomb that was
empty up to today with Jesus resurrected, once and for all.

The resurrection message brought hope, strength and encouragement to
the followers of Jesus and entire Christian nations.

I know that we in the Nuba Mountains and other places in Sudan and
South Sudan, are in that bad week similar to the one that the
disciples and followers of Jesus had, of frustration, fear and
hopelessness.

In our region a meal for a child or elderly person is a challenge, we
live in fear, we don’t know what we are going to eat or give our
children in the following day. We don’t know that we are going to be
alive in the next day, who is going to die next and how? by a bullet
or Air bombardment, or Malaria. Who is going to save me on the next
day, where will I sleep tonight after my house is burned or destroyed?
How will I  protect myself from scorpions, snakes or mosquitoes in the
dark of the Cave in the mountains where most of Nuba currently live?

Those are the frustrations and hopelessness of the bad week, this bad
situation is real but Jesus also is real. Brothers and sisters in the
Nuba Mountains and elsewhere, may the good news of resurrection bring
you hope, encouragement and healing. May the resurrected Lord be real
to you, may He be present to each and every one of you.

The bible tells us that the disciples where together with doors locked
for fear, Jesus came and stood among them and said “ peace be with
you” I believe when he said that all fear, sadness and confusion was
replaced by courage, hope, peace and life. We need the same words of
Jesus “Peace be with you” in our various situations, families, cities,
countries and indeed we will have the peace that the world can not
understand, the peace that is not with standards of the world, but the
peace of God that passes all understanding. It will change a lot of
things and will change many people, this is the peace we need in Sudan
and South Sudan. May he bring us peace.

Before his death Jesus forgave those who arrested and planned to kill
him, after His resurrection he did not even attempt revenge, instead
he carried on with message of peace, the only way to prosper and have
peace, is the way of no revenge. Instead show forgiveness and love our
neighbours this is what Sudan and South Sudan needs.

Jesus was able to defeat evil, death, hatred, love of power & wealth
and all forms of corruption. He is alive and can do the same in your
life if you call on him with a sincere heart.  He is the savior, the
resurrection and the life.

Followers of Christ where ever you are can you ask in prayer the
resurrected Lord to be present and real to people who are in need.

I stand here in the hope of resurrection to ask you to speak more to
the world on behalf of those who are weak or helpless and give a
helping hand to the needy where ever they are because that is the part
of the resurrection hope.

May the risen Lord bring you light and hope.

Happy Easter to you all   - With prayers

Rt. Rev. Andudu Adam Elnail

Bishop of the [ECSSS] Diocese of Kadugli.

South Sudan: A Civil War by Any Other Name

Africa Report N°21710 Apr 2014

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

On 15 December 2013 the world’s newest state descended into civil war. Continuing fighting has displaced more than 1,000,000 and killed over 10,000 while a humanitarian crisis threatens many more. Both South Sudanese and the international community were ill-prepared to prevent or halt the conflict: the nation’s closest allies did little to mediate leadership divisions within the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement’s (SPLM). The SPLM and its army (SPLA) quickly split along divisions largely unaddressed from the independence war. Were it not for the intervention of Uganda and allied rebel and militia groups, the SPLA would likely not have been able to hold Juba or recapture lost territory. The war risks tearing the country further apart and is pulling in regional states. Resolving the conflict requires not a quick fix but sustained domestic and international commitment. Governance, including SPLM and SPLA reform and communal relations, must be on the table. Religious and community leaders, civil society and women are critical to this process and must not be excluded.

Although the dispute within the SPLM that led to the conflict was primarily political, ethnic targeting, communal mobilisation and spiralling violence quickly led to appalling levels of brutality against civilians, including deliberate killings inside churches and hospitals. Dinka elements of the Presidential Guard and other security organs engaged in systematic violence against Nuer in Juba in the early days. Armed actors, including the Nuer White Army, responded by targeting Dinka and other civilians in more than a dozen locations. Other communities are being drawn into the conflict and there is an increasing possibility of more significant foreign intervention.

The regional organisation, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), responded quickly. Three envoys, Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin (Ethiopia), General Lazarus Sumbeiywo (Kenya) and General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dhabi (Sudan) shuttled between Juba, Addis Ababa, where peace talks have been held, and opposition-controlled territory and, after weeks of pressure and negotiation, obtained a cessation of hostilities. However, this was violated almost immediately, and fighting continues, as a monitoring and verification mission struggles to establish itself on the ground.

Neighbouring Uganda (also an IGAD member), as well as forces associated with Sudanese armed opposition groups, notably the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), intervened early in support of the South Sudanese government. That in turn may yet trigger Sudan government support to the SPLA in Opposition. Announced plans for an IGAD-led force, about which there are critical mandate, composition and funding questions, raises the prospect of even greater regional involvement in the civil war.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is hosting almost 70,000 civilians fleeing ethnic reprisals, but its badly outgunned peacekeepers are no match for the thousands of heavily armed forces and militias. It has already come under attack, including a fatal one in Jonglei, while protecting civilians. In at least five locations, South Sudanese seeking protection have been targeted and killed by armed actors in or around UNMISS bases. Increasingly hostile rhetoric from government officials and some opposition commanders and limitations on its freedom of movement are additional challenges. The reprioritisation of its mandated tasks has essentially divided the country in two for the beleaguered UNMISS: it remains impartial in one part, while supporting the government in another. This decision will do little to clarify its role for South Sudanese and should be reviewed before the mandate is renewed.

As peace talks stall, the civil war rages on. To prevent further catastrophe, the country’s leaders and its international partners need to consider a radical restructuring of the state. Propping up the government in Juba and polishing its legitimacy with a dose of political dialogue and a dash of power sharing will not end the conflict. New constituencies have to be admitted to a national dialogue and their perspectives respected, including armed groups and disaffected communities that go beyond the contending forces within the SPLM/A, as well as women and civil society more generally. These constituencies are critical to rebuilding the SPLM, increasing democratic space within and beyond the party, drafting a national constitution and preparing for credible national elections. If these processes are to be viable, they will not be able to proceed according to the pre-war timeline. Political commitments must match the new realities. The country needs fundamental reworking of the governance agreement between and within elites and communities if a negotiated settlement is to lead to a sustainable peace.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To address immediately the deteriorating political, security and humanitarian situation

To the UN Security Council:

1.  Amend the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to ensure it is consistent across the country and emphasises protection of civilians, human rights reporting, support for the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediation process and logistical help for the African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry.

2.  Signal clearly that leaders will be held responsible for the actions of troops they command, and any interference with UNMISS and humanitarian operations may give rise to targeted sanctions.

3.  Ensure that any support provided to an IGAD or other regional force is consis­tent with and does not undermine UNMISS’ ability to carry out its mandated tasks, particularly its protection of civilians responsibilities.

To UNMISS:

4.  Communicate more effectively to all parties the parameters of its refocused mandate, including its Chapter VII protection of civilians responsibility, and respond consistently to increasing restrictions and violations of its status of forces agreement with the government of South Sudan that undermine its ability to carry out the tasks assigned by the Security Council.

To armed actors:

5.  Enable impartial humanitarian access to civilians in need and do not link this access to the cessation of hostilities or any other agreement.

6.  Comply with international humanitarian law, specifically:

a) halt the targeting of civilians, including by stopping combat operations in areas where civilians cannot be distinguished from combatants and avoiding combat in areas around UN bases where those seeking protection are sheltered; and

b) end the looting and destruction of humanitarian facilities.

To promote inclusive political dialogue, ensure accountability for war crimes and atrocities and prevent further regionalisation of the conflict

To South Sudanese actors, IGAD, the AU and other international partners:

7.  Establish three separate negotiation tracks – focused on the SPLM, armed groups and communal conflict – that are appropriately sequenced and contribute to the broader process of national political dialogue.

8.  Discuss and plan interim political and military arrangements that go beyond simple power sharing between the elites driving the conflict to bring in an inclusive group of South Sudanese who reflect the country’s political and ethnic diversity, as well as regional figures.

9.  Include in the peace process South Sudanese civil society representatives, such as religious leaders, community-based organisations, youth leaders, women’s associations and others.

10.  Recognise that engagement with all armed groups and militarised communities is critical to sustainable conflict resolution and that failure to do so will undermine the mediation and may make spoilers of those who could otherwise be constructively engaged in national processes.

11.  Ensure that truth, justice, and reconciliation are part of a process to address mass atrocities and prevent further conflict.

12.  Provide the AU Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Abuses adequate staff, time and resources to consult widely when formulating its recommendations, including with the parties in conflict, civil society, religious organisations and communities.

13.  Consider a hybrid tribunal with South Sudanese and international judges, similar to the Special Court for Sierra Leone, as a vehicle through which to obtain concrete and visible justice for the people of South Sudan.

14.  Deploy an IGAD or other regional force only if:

a) it has a clear mandate that supports a political resolution of the conflict;

b) there are adequate troops and financial resources available for speedy deployment; and

c) adequate precautions are put in place to ensure it works toward a shared political vision and not troop contributors’ individual interests.

15.  Increase political coordination between the IGAD mediation process and the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan and South Sudan, as tensions continue to increase between the two states.

16.  Establish a Contact Group that includes IGAD, the AU, UN, Troika (U.S., UK and Norway), European Union (EU), China and South Africa to facilitate discussions on the way forward and coordination between international actors.

17.  Avoid competing, parallel and piecemeal efforts by ensuring that no donor or externally driven peace and reconciliation projects, or politically sensitive development work, is undertaken in isolation from the national processes; and engage to improve any national processes that are not legitimate rather than advance alternatives. (ICG)

Addis Ababa/Juba/Nairobi/Brussels, 10 April 2014

Palm Sunday Meditation

Palm Sunday Meditation...
Today we are that donkey that leads Jesus into the world, reveals him and speaks of him as the late Cardinal Lustiger of Paris used to say. This is a beautiful picture because it reminds us that Jesus did not want to be led by imposing mounts but by the small and humble ones.

     Jesus is a "poor" King and, therefore, is a King of peace who chose the Cross as a throne. He is a brave King because he enters Jerusalem knowing that he will meet the Crucifixion to ripen his fruit only beyond the Cross, passing through it to enter into eternal life: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life "(Jn 12: 24-25).

     The cross which is a symbol of death and a symbol of a curse that is the expression of the worst of all sentences, with Christ and for Christ becomes the instrument of elevation of all mankind and the entire universe in the glory of God (cf. St. Ignatius of Antioch).

      This is the Christian paradox:  the one who orients himself to the eternal Kingdom following the instructions of Jesus Christ, is meek ​​, merciful, a peacemaker, pure in heart and thirsting for God’s justice and is able to change the history of the world in a deeper and more efficient way than the power-holders for whom nothing is more important than supremacy.

     It follows that the Cross is required. As Christians, we must not only direct our gaze to the permanent Kingdom beyond death and preach it. Together with Christ, we must live the need of the Cross for us so that for the Church and for the world  we can complete in our body what is still in ourselves lacking in the Passion of Christ ( cf. Col 1: 24).

(Mons. Francesco Follo at Zenit)

The 5th Sunday of Lent (A)

The 5^th Sunday of Lent (A): The Raising of Lazarus

Readings: Ezekiel 37: 12-14; Romans 8: 8-11; John 11: 1-45

Text:  And when Jesus had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11: 43)

Meditation:  The drama of raising Lazarus from the dead confronts us anew of the same question asked of Marta and Mary… "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

We need to hear the call of Jesus, the Lord, anew… and come out from the tomb of fear, unbelief, powerlessness and isolation. Let us all come out from the tomb of impotence that is ourselves…

Visit:  www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.