Cross Broader Dialogue meeting in Torit South Sudan

ARLPI team jointly visited the IOs site in Bur where a lot of positive discussion about peaceful coexistence were made. The team was led by CITSSAMN after consultation with Torit State Governor who advised the team to plan the visit with CITSSAMN. At the IO base Most Rev Dr Bernard Oringa Balmoi introduced ARLPI and IRC team to the IO leader including their mission in Torit. He thanked the IO leader for accepting to meet with the religious leaders and urged them to continue to peruse a peaceful end to the war in South Sudan. He reiterated that as religious leaders they are shepherds to both the people in government and to the IO. Later he handed over to them assortment of food items consisting of rice and washing soap to support them in their struggle.

Sheik Musa Khalil encouraged the IO to observe and respect the ceasefire so that the country does not go back into war. He noted that Uganda and South Sudan are like brothers and sisters, in the past Ugandans took refuge in South Sudan and now South Sudanese are refugees in Uganda because they have been friendly to each other.

Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng, on behalf of ARLPI thanked the IO leader and noted that they will not go back to war but will pursue a peaceful and nonviolent means to ending the war. He noted that schools have been destroyed along the roads to Torit and education has been interrupted, a nation without education is blind, he remarked. He told the IO leaders that if they love their people and country then they should stop this war and get back to farm their fertile land to develop themselves. He concluded that ARLPI is willing to talk to President Salvakir and Dr. Riek Machar if it is one of the things that will bring to an end the sufferings in South Sudan.

Mrs. Simporoza noted that during war women and children bare the heaviest burden, back in Northern Uganda, we worked with women and night commuter children to mitigate the burdens of war on them. She said she felt a lot of sympathy to the women of South Sudan and urged them to be peace builders by calming down situations so that the war in South Sudan can come to a peaceful end.

Mrs. Simporoza Otim sharing experience with the South Sudanese women in Torit.

Above IO leader shaking hand with the chairman of ARLPI Rt Rev Nelson Onono Onweny

IO leader warmly welcome the religious leaders and thank IRC for inviting ARLPI to Torit. He reiterated that they will respect the cease-fire and will not go back to war, 'f the politicians want war then they will fight their own war but for us we are committed to peaceful negotiations to end the war', said the IO leader. He urged IRC to continue to support them in their struggle and ARLPI to continue to support IRC so that peace can return to South Sudan. He concluded that they have called for calm and they are moving round to meet with all IO leaders to patiently watch what will come out of the transition process.