Prayers were said for South Sudan at the African Biblical Leadership Initiative forum today.
More than 100 church and civil society leaders thronged around three MPs from the world’s newest nation that has been wracked by civil war.
Prayers were said for peace in South Sudan, as well as for the country to emerge into a better-educated, more prosperous future.
David Smith, Head of International Programme for the British and Foreign Bible Society, sponsors of the event said, ‘The Church has to pray for true peace in South Sudan.
‘The government and the rebel leadership have signed a peace agreement, but with tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, for South Sudan to find peace a huge amount of repentance, forgiveness, justice and healing is needed.
'It's in that context that the Bible is essential. These are all biblical concepts.'
Earlier in the day MPs from both government and rebel sides of the South Sudan conflict had spoken of their experiences of protracted and repeated civil war.
Hazel Southam caught up with the South Sudanese MP, Paul Bonju, who called for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the country.
The Hon Anne Linno from the South Sudanese government told the forum that the country needed to establish a committee of truth and reconciliation. She asked Church and civil society leaders from ABLI to take a lead in seeing it established.
ABLI
