(File Photo)
By Bida Elly David
The President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit has said that the country is going to face serious starvation due to insufficient amount of rainfall that hindered production and urged Humanitarian Organizations to intervene with relief.
He said this during the Ecumenical Mass yesterday by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who landed in Juba on Tuesday after his pilgrimage visit to the democratic Republic of Congo.
The president made the statement Thursday, while during prayer at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum. H.E. Kiir Mayardit predicted the country to face severe hunger due to less rainfall that has hindered farming activities in the country.
“Our problem is that rain has refused to come this year and it means that there will be severe hunger that the country will face next year. So, we are calling for the international community to support the people of South Sudan,” Kiir said.
Furthermore, Kiir told the Vatican Secretary of State to inform the Holy Father that implementation of the peace agreement is on the move but with much difficulties.
“We are implementing the peace agreement although there are some people among us who are not allowing us to move smoothly and intend to derail it from the path we have taken. Your Eminence, if the Holy Father asked you about the implementation of the agreement, tell him it is being implemented but with difficulties,” President Kiir said.
At the same note, he added that the country has been battled by political war which was termed to be a tribal matter but null.
“I would like to assure you that in South Sudan, we are fighting political war which has been turned to be a tribal war but among us, nobody has got a conflict with other tribes. I believe that we are going to solve whatever problems we have in regards to your message to us. It is our hope that we must come together to celebrate our independence which is next tomorrow harmoniously and nobody should have any problem with anybody of any other religion. In South Sudan we have no religious differences because you find that Christians have relationship with Muslims and this has brought us together since we don’t have relationship differences in South Sudan. We need to be in peace,” he said.
However, Kiir deliberated on next Presidential meeting that would involve fixing of date for the graduation of the unified forces and manifested needs to focus on ways to mitigate flooding in some parts of the country when it comes to heavy downpour.
He finally urged citizens to unite and work towards implementation of the long-awaited peace agreement that will pave way for the prosperity of the country.