South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit emphasized the strong potential of churches in helping to develop their new country. His comments came during a conversation with the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who visited Friday, 25 April in the capital city, Juba, where Tveit also visited with the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC).
South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 following a referendum mandated by the 2006 peace pact that ended Africa's longest-running civil war. The WCC was deeply engaged in the peace process.
During the meeting Kiir expressed his appreciation for Christian organizations, saying that they "always played an important role in providing humanitarian assistance in the times of conflict." He mentioned different projects including Christian hospitals and emergency responses that continued to run during the time of conflict.
"After the independence of South Sudan, it is the churches who have the capability to bring people together and help rebuild the country,"said Kiir.
