South Sudan peace talks: Machar and Kiir in deadlock over states

From The BBC-

The two rivals are under increasing international pressure to meet a deadline of 22 February to implement a power-sharing deal.

The US last year warned that it would impose sanctions on anyone working against the peace process.

Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, have said they will visit South Sudan once a national unity government is formed.

Mr Machar has long demanded that President Kiir reverse his decision to increase the number of states to 32, seeing it as a way to give positions to presidential loyalists and boost his power base.

On Saturday, the president agreed to return to a system of 10 states and sacked all 32 state governors, raising hopes of an end to the deadlock.

More here-

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51521778

Pope and Anglican Archbishop Join in Urgent Appeal to South Sudan

From South Sudan-

An Christmas Day appeal for peace addressed to leaders in South Sudan has been issued by Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican Communion, joined by the Rev. John Chalmers, former moderator of the Church of Scotland.

"In this Christmas season and at the beginning of a new year, we wish to extend to you and to all the people of South Sudan our best wishes for your peace and prosperity, and to assure you of our spiritual closeness as you strive for a swift implementation of the Peace Agreements," the leaders said.

"We raise our prayers to Christ the Saviour for a renewed commitment to the path of reconciliation and fraternity, and we invoke abundant blessings upon each of you and upon the entire nation. May the Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, enlighten you and guide your steps in the way of goodness and truth, and bring to fulfilment our desire to visit your beloved country."

More here-

https://allafrica.com/stories/201912250199.html 

and here-

https://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68757

and here-

https://www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2019/12/pope-religious-leaders-send-south-sudan-rivals-christmas-peace-appeal/

Patrick Augustine, assistant bishop of the Diocese of Bor, appearing at Living Word Church during return to La Crosse

From Wisconsin-

After 16 years presiding over Christ Episcopal Church, Patrick Augustine left the comforts of La Crosse last June to accept the role of assistant bishop of the Diocese of Bor.

After a summer of service work in sweltering temperatures and mosquito-riddled quarters, Augustine is grateful for a brief reprieve in the Coulee Region, and the support of Living Word Christian Church, where he will be prayed over this weekend before his return to South Sudan.

After nearly three decades of assisting Sudanese refugees, including helping settle thousands of the Lost Boys of Sudan in America, Augustine was summoned last May to serve the Diocese of Bor, consecrated last June in South Sudan.

With the appointment, Augustine committed to four- to six-week visits, thrice yearly, to aid the country as it rebuilds after its 2011 independence from Sudan as well as build relationships between the impoverished country and the United States.

More here-

https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/patrick-augustine-assistant-bishop-of-the-diocese-of-bor-appearing/article_38a98bdb-a478-59d3-af67-0d8e17cbc89a.html

Pope, Anglican archbishop affirm desire to visit South Sudan together

From Crux-

Pope Francis and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, said they would travel together to South Sudan if the country’s leaders fulfill their promise to form a transitional government by late February.

The pope and Welby met at the Vatican Nov. 13 while the Anglican leader was in Rome to install a new director of the city’s Anglican Centre.

“During the friendly discussions, the condition of Christians in the world was mentioned, as well as certain situations of international crisis, particularly the sorrowful situation in South Sudan,” the Vatican press office said in a statement later.

More here-

 https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/11/13/pope-anglican-archbishop-affirm-desire-to-visit-south-sudan-together/

South Sudanese gather in Lexington for peace conference

From Southwestern Virginia-

The South Sudanese Diaspora Network for Reconciliation and Peace was created last year at a conference led by the American Friends of the Episcopal Church of the Sudans. Leaders who had been exiled from South Sudan gathered to discuss what would be necessary to achieve lasting peace in the country and decided to create an organized group.

This weekend’s conference falls on the day the church celebrates the feast day of the Rev. Marc Nikkel, who worked as a missionary in South Sudan before he died in 2000.

In January, the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia met for its convention. The minister of Grace Episcopal Church asked the founder of the American Friends group to speak at the church’s Marc Nikkel celebration. But he said he couldn’t because he was helping the Diaspora Network find a venue for its conference, Grace Episcopal Church Program Director Sharon Massie said.

More here-

https://www.roanoke.com/news/virginia/south-sudanese-gather-in-lexington-for-peace-conference/article_f0155de6-e769-5b64-82ab-9b59efc4ce56.html

Sudanese bishop visits Gilbertsville

From New York-

Justin Badi Arama, archbishop of South Sudan, preached the value of living a life of gratitude to God to an audience of Gilbertsville congregants and former Sudanese refugees who fled the violence in their home country as children and have since established lives and families in upstate New York.

The Sudanese nationals were the special guests of Christ Episcopal Church, one of three Gilbertsville congregations to host the annual community worship service Sunday in Centennial Park.

“A life well-lived is a life of gratitude and thanksgiving to God,” Arama said. “Although we live in a world that is full of misery — full of disability, full of disease, wars and terror attacks — the bible encourages all Christians to live a life of gratitude to God.”

Arama said the most important reason to be thankful to God is outlined in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only begotten son to the world.”

More here-

https://www.thedailystar.com/news/local_news/sudanese-bishop-visits-gilbertsville/article_7ef5560d-7045-57a3-a6a5-396dc7be273d.html

US Episcopal Church builds on tie with South Sudan

From The Church Times-

AN EPISCOPALIAN from the United States has been appointed as a bishop in South Sudan to foster links between the two Episcopal Churches.

He is Canon Patrick Augustine, who has left his post of Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, La Crosse, in Wisconsin, and is now an assistant bishop in the diocese of Bor, in South Sudan.

But Bishop Augustine, who is 69, plans to divide his time equally between the US and Bor diocese, ministering in particular to the South Sudanese diaspora in the US, and trying to strengthen the relationship between the Episcopal Churches in the US and South Sudan.

The appointment was made by the Archbishop of Jonglei and Bishop of Bor, the Most Revd Ruben Akurdid Ngong. He has known Bishop Augustine for many decades; the Pakistani-born US cleric has spent years travelling to and from South Sudan.

Part of Bishop Augustine’s remit will be to try to heal divisions over the US Episcopal Church’s affirmation of same-sex marriage.

More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/14-june/news/world/us-episcopal-church-builds-on-tie-with-south-sudan

Rev. Patrick Augustine leaving La Crosse Episcopal Church after 16 years for position in Africa

From Wisconsin-

It was a magazine article that kept the Rev. Patrick Augustine awake at night, that brought tears to his eyes, that shaped the course of his life.

Augustine was serving at a parish in Virginia in 1992 when he received a copy of “Yes” magazine from the Church Missionary Society in London, a photo of Bishop of Bor Nathaniel Garang on the cover.

Inside, Garang had detailed the plight of the Sudanese, who were suffering through decades of war, genocide and religious oppression under the reign of the National Islamic Front.

The Second Sudanese Civil War had begun nine years earlier, after the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972, and by its conclusion 2.5 million lives would be lost and 4.5 million citizens would be displaced, among them Christians refusing to accept Sharia law.

“When I read that story, it really touched my heart,” Augustine said. “I was very much disturbed by what was going on.”

More here-

https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/rev-patrick-augustine-leaving-la-crosse-episcopal-church-after-years/article_c80d9ecb-d208-53a9-9189-129a336296fc.html

At retreat for South Sudan leaders, pope literally begs for peace

From Catholic Philly-

The retreat was the idea of Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, who attended the final part of the gathering. He and Pope Francis have been supporting the peace efforts of the South Sudan Council of Churches and, the pope said again April 11, they hope to visit South Sudan together when there is peace.

Pope Francis told the politicians and members of the Council of Churches that “peace” was the first word Jesus said to his disciples after the resurrection.

“Peace is the first gift that the Lord brought us, and the first commitment that leaders of nations must pursue,” he told them. “Peace is the fundamental condition for ensuring the rights of each individual and the integral development of an entire people.”

More here-

http://catholicphilly.com/2019/04/news/world-news/at-retreat-for-south-sudan-leaders-pope-literally-begs-for-peace/

Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s Bishop of Yirol, Simon Adut Yuang, killed in plane crash

From ACNS-

The Anglican Bishop of Yirol, Simon Adut Yuang, was one of 20 people killed when a plane carrying them from the South Sudanese capital Juba crashed into a lake as it attempted to land at Yirol Airport. Reports say that thick fog around Yirol, in the centre of the country, may have played a part in the accident. Only three of the plane’s passengers: two children and an Italian doctor, survived.

Other victims include a member of the Red Cross in South Sudan. “When it arrived the weather was so foggy and when it tried to land it crashed into Lake Yirol adjacent to Yirol town”, regional government minister Abel Aguek was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. “The whole town is in shock, the shops are closed, some people have taken their relatives for burial. It is a commercial plane that crashed.”

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2018/09/episcopal-church-of-south-sudans-bishop-of-yirol-simon-adut-yuang-killed-in-plane-crash.aspx

South Sudan: Several dead as passenger plane crashes in river

From South Sudan-

At least six people died in South Sudan when a small aircraft carrying passengers from Juba International Airport to the city of Yirol crashed, a witness said.

"We are still removing bodies from the water because the aircraft fell into a river," the witness told Reuters news agency. 

"So far, in front of me there are six bodies recovered from the water." 

Other reports said up to 17 people were killed in the crashed. 

Officials said they are investigating the cause of Sunday's crash.

"We have not yet established full details of the airline but what we know it is a 19-seater plane coming from Juba to Yirol this morning," Taban Abel Aguek, regional information minister for the Eastern Great Lakes state, told AFP news agency.
"When it arrived the weather was so foggy and when it tried to land it crashed... Its so sad. Many people on board are feared dead. We are still establishing details," he added.

Anglican Bishop of Yirol, Simon Adut, was confirmed among the dead, according to Abel.

More here-

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/south-sudan-dead-passenger-plane-crashes-river-180909094823122.html 

also here-

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2018/09/09/At-least-17-killed-in-South-Sudan-plane-crash.html

Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s national youth coordinator killed in gun attack

From ACNS-

The national youth coordinator for the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) has died after being shot while travelling to Yei. Thousands of young people gathered at the house of Joseph Kiri yesterday (Monday) to pay their respects for the youth worker and evangelist, who was killed just days after the Primate of South Sudan, Archbishop Justin Badi Arama, said more needed to be done to turn a peace deal on paper into peace on the ground.

In addition to his work with the ECSS, Joseph Kiri worked for a church humanitarian organisation Across. He was shot near the village of Limbe, a few kilometres away from Yei, when unknown gunmen targeted his NGO vehicle. He was travelling to Yei to deliver field reports for Across, where he worked as a nutrition officer.

The Executive Director of Across, Elisama Wani Daniel, said that Kiri died instantly after being shot in the chest as the vehicle was sprayed with bullets. His driver, Maliamungu, managed to escape and ran to a military base at Limbe. Soldiers rushed to the scene of the attack and recovered Kiri’s body, which was being transferred to the capital Juba, today.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2018/09/episcopal-church-of-south-sudans-national-youth-coordinator-killed-in-gun-attack.aspx

Indian peacekeepers in S Sudan impart farming training to women

From South Sudan-


Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan Hillary Garang Deng, who joined in the training, expressed his optimism about the project having a significant impact in the revival of Malakal town.

"Women play a crucial role in the well-being of families and communities and they should be encouraged and taught how to cultivate land and other skills," he said.

At the end of the on-farm demonstration, participants were given a variety of seeds, including bottle gourd, chilli, coriander, mustard, beans, spinach, cucumber, better gourd and lady fingers, to enable them to start their own individual farm projects.

More here-

https://www.dailypioneer.com/india-abroad/indian-peacekeepers-in-s-sudan-impart-farming-training-to-women.html

'It’s not safe for us': South Sudanese-Australians weather 'African gangs' storm

From The Guardian-

Luke Henriques-Gomes visits west Melbourne shops, churches and sports clubs to hear how residents cope with complicated social issues amid an onslaught of negative attention

At the Victory Grace Church in Albion, 100 worshippers sing and sway with their eyes closed and their palms out.

Leading them is Pastor Nathan Kuku, dressed in a tan leather jacket. He bounds across the room, his arms jutting out at sharp angles as he gesticulates with an almost Mick Jagger-like energy.

The gospel music swells. Some women lose their footing and are guided to the front of the church – technically a Maltese community centre in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Kuku places his hand on the women’s foreheads, and they collapse again.

More here-

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/25/its-not-safe-for-us-south-sudanese-australians-weather-african-gangs-storm

Anglican Church Endorses Vatican's Call for Prayers for South Sudan, DRC

From VOA-

Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, secretary-general of the Anglican consultative council, is appealing to the leaders of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to end violence and restore peace.

Idowu-Fearon said the Anglican Communion will join Catholics’ peace efforts on Friday.

“With these countries, No. 1, you will see that, the extent of the loss of lives, the extent of the suffering in these two countries, honestly, it is an embarrassment to Africa in general and the powers that be in the world in particular,” Idowu-Fearon said.

He said the conflict in the two countries is because of power struggle, adding, “It has to do with an epidemic problem on the continent of Africa. ... Tribalism, corruption (and) power.”

More here-

https://www.voanews.com/a/anglican-church-endorses-vatican-call-for-prayers-for-south-sudan/4266617.html

ACNA defends Gafcon decision not to reveal existence of female bishop

From Episcopal Cafe-

Although the press in South Sudan ran the news when it occurred, it was only recently learned that the Province South Sudan consecrated the first female bishop in Gafcon. The Rt. Rev. Elizabeth Awut Ngor was consecrated assistant bishop of the Diocese of Rumbek in the Province of South Sudan in December 2016, breaking a Gafcon moratorium on female bishops. Once word was out, Gafcon issued a statement revealing that the Gafcon primates first learned of the consecration in April 2017. The communique from that meeting makes no mention of the consecration, nor does any subsequent Gafcon communication.

Yesterday a press release from ACNA (Anglican Church in North America) addressed why Gafcon took no initiative to make news of the consecration public. Its author is the Rev. Canon Andrew Gross, Canon for Communications and Media Relations of ACNA. He has also served as Gafcon’s spokesperson.

ACNA’s press release is reproduced in full below. It has not appeared on ACNA’s website.

More here-

https://www.episcopalcafe.com/acna-defends-gafcon-decision-not-to-reveal-existence-of-female-bishop/

Aweil bishop applauds recent Anglican Archbishop elections

From South Sudan-

The Anglican Bishop of Aweil Diocese Abraham Yel Nhial said the recent election for the Anglican primate and Archbishop was peaceful and transparent although he lost to the Bishop of Maridi Diocese Justin Badi Arama.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Bishop Yel said he accepted the results of what he termed as a tight race in which he lost by one vote to preserve unity and strengthen harmony within the Anglican Church and the whole country.

“The election was conducted in a harmonious atmosphere although there were election fevers during campaign but at the end of the day Bishop Badi was declared the successful candidate. He won by 1 vote. He got 80 votes and I got 79 votes. Immediately after the announcement was made, I stood up and congratulated him. I did it so to preserve the unity of the church and to strengthen harmony of our believers and the faithful,” he said.

More here-

https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/aweil-bishop-applauds-recent-anglican-archbishop-elections

South Sudan Episcopal Church gets new Archbishop

From South Sudan-

The Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) elected the new primate and Archbishop over the weekend in Juba.
Bishop of Maridi diocese, Justin Badi Arama, was elected as the new primate and Archbishop, to succeed Bishop Dr. Daniel Deng Bul who announced his retirement in July last year.

The election for a new bishop could not happen until it was approved by the House of Bishops last Friday.

The newly elected Bishop Badi won against his challenger, Abraham Yel Nhial, the Bishop of Aweil by just one vote.

Out of 159 participants, he obtained eighty votes while his rival, Bishop Nhial got 79 counts.


More here-

http://www.africanews.com/2018/01/23/south-sudan-church-gets-new-archbishop/

The Bishop who helps South Sudanese Refugees

From Africa News-

He became their vessel used to help at a very crucial season of their life.

Every week at Parolinya camp in northern Uganda, Bishop Emmanuel Murye’s congregation – made up mostly of South Sudanese refugees, meet under a tree for Sunday service.

They came at the start of 2017 from their homes in Kajo Keji, South Sudan – as the government and two rebel groups battled for control in a war sparked by a feud between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar.

Bishop Murye had been installed as the new Anglican bishop of Kajo Keji county just days before the fighting broke out.

He sheltered dozens of families in his church compound until the fighting died down. Thousands of people fled to Uganda.

Murye stayed and organized trucks to carry over 100 people across the border.

Kajo Keji became a ghost town – almost everyone left and Bishop Murye decided to follow his church.

More here-

http://www.africanews.com/2018/01/09/the-bishop-who-helps-south-sudanese-refugees/

South Sudanese Anglican Bishop Urges Arrest of Soldiers Accused of Rape

From South Sudan-

A South Sudanese Anglican bishop said the government of South Sudan is not serious about apprehending soldiers who rape women and girls in the country.

The Archbishop of the Internal Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Reverend Paul Yugusuk, said his office has reported a case of a pregnant women who was raped at gunpoint this week by a member of the South Sudan army stationed at Aru conjunction post on the Juba Nimule highway.

Yugusuk told VOA's South Sudan In Focus that military authorities have not yet arrested the accused soldier, who remains at large and might continue raping women in Aru at gunpoint.

The bishop said the woman and her husband were held at gun point by soldiers manning the Aru conjunction."The woman was threatened by gun. The husband was also threatened. One soldier raped the woman.The woman is now in the hospital. She has been in a critical situation.A (police case) has been opened at the Aru conjunction Police post against the SPLA," he said.

More here-

https://www.voanews.com/a/south-sudanese-anglican-bishop-urges-arrest-of-soldiers-accused-of-rape/4194591.html