About the Pope’s visit to Juba. 

By: Bathumi Ayul

Many questions are moving in the minds of many people in the country about Pope Francis’ visit to South Sudan, and what could result from that. Let us agree that the demand of the people of South Sudan lies only in a lasting peace that includes all parts of the country, which has become a dream of every individual. It is true that His Holiness the Pope had previously kissed the feet of the President of the Republic, Lieutenant General Salva Kiir Mayardit, and his First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, pleading with them to bring peace and work for peace only. It is known that Pope Francis was expected to arrive in Juba before, but the visit was postponed for reasons related to his health, despite the presence of many factors that are believed to have been the reason behind the cancellation of the visit at that time. His Holiness the Pope enjoys a special place among the (spiritual people) meaning we cannot expect his speech to be devoid of messages of love and peace.

Let us say that the President of the Republic, Lieutenant-General Salva Kiir Mayardit, is a Catholic (committed), and the Pope has special respect. Therefore, in preparation for what His Holiness the Pope said before regarding peace and stability in the country, the visit will be an inventory of the account and standing on the promises made by the President of the Republic before God and His Holiness Pope, so the question will become,, Did Kiir and Machar stick to what they made to work for peace,? Is peace already resolved? Has stability covered all corners of the country? Was the revitalized agreement implemented in letter and spirit? What is the state of the security situation in the regions of Upper Nile, Equatoria and Abyei? Did the citizens leave the protection of civilians camps in Juba, Bentiu, and Malakal?

Have refugees from Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, returned to their original homes in South Sudan? Have the provisions of the security arrangements been already implemented? Was the chapter on transitional justice implemented? Was the stability of the economic situation in southern Sudan reflected on its people? How do we assess the reality of the required political consensus, because it is one of the determinants of political stability (the government’s position on the Rome negotiations)?

 Note that the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis coincides with the end of the transitional period of the revitalized peace agreement, which is expected to end by the end of this month, and with the beginning of the road map put forward by the government.

I think all of these questions undoubtedly revolve in the minds of many followers, and the political leadership in the country is in fact required to be honest and friendly with itself in order to answer them before His Holiness the Pope, and not to wear the veil of cunning and political prevarication in its response! Because everything is clearly visible.

Therefore, let the pope’s visit be a new era to spread the spirit of moral responsibility to the political leadership in the country, given that those in charge of the state are mandated to perform a purely national duty away from personal motives, meaning that the direct responsibility for signing political stability in the country rests with every individual who holds a political position. Or administrative according to the government structure. It is only required to take into account the interests of the people and nothing more.

Therefore, I believe that the visit will oblige the President of the Republic to make more efforts to achieve political consensus in southern Sudan, despite its complexities, but it is an important requirement to confirm the pledge made regarding achieving peace throughout the country. The visit will prompt the necessity of resuming the Rome talks, which were suspended for nearly six months for reasons related to the issues at hand. I also believe that the visit may be reflected in the details of the signed road map, along with the calls of other political parties for the need to hold a round table conference to discuss national issues and the road map programs. The visit will open many files related to the security situation in the country to discuss its causes and motives, whether political or else.

I call on the President of the Republic, Lieutenant General Salva Kiir Mayardit, to seize the opportunity to review his long political career, to take an inventory of what he gave to his people and what befell his people in all parts of the country, and to take them into account, including the right to a decent life, there right to security and safety, right to development, right to social justice, right to sustainable development, right to political practice, right to freedom.

  Bathumi Ayul is a

Journalist/Founder and Editor-in-Chief of

“Wajumanews” electronic newspaper

 Human rights defender.

2 February , 2023