As suspended First Vice President and opposition leader Riek Machar faces charges of treason, murder, and crimes against humanity, a senior South Sudanese church leader is urging dialogue over court action to prevent escalating tensions.
Rev. Tut Kony Nyang, General Secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), warned that the nation’s political crisis has “deteriorated severely” since March, following the arrest of Machar and other opposition figures.
“There is no problem that cannot be solved through dialogue,” Rev. Tut told Radio Tamazuj in an exclusive interview, adding that the church has already initiated 70 days of prayer to encourage peace.
The pastor emphasized that sending Machar’s case to court could worsen the fragile political situation, calling instead for an inclusive national dialogue involving political actors, communities, and faith leaders.
The church, he said, stands ready to act as a mediator, recalling its past involvement in mediation during the Addis Ababa peace talks and the Kejiko process.
“We are calling on our leaders to prioritize peace at all costs. Power-sharing alone cannot resolve South Sudan’s crisis — only open dialogue can,” Rev. Tut stressed.
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