Update from Dane Smith
This past weekend brought the joyful news of the consecration of our good friend the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Garang Atem as Archbishop of Upper Nile. He has been Bishop of Renk since 2007, where he has expanded church-based schooling, encouraged sorghum planting, and mobilized, with the Mothers Union and Five Talents, savings groups of women and male youth. AFRECS is partnering with both organizations to provide trauma healing training in Renk. Archbishop Joseph holds a Masters in Theological Studies from Seabury Western Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, from which he has also received an honorary doctorate.
The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Garang Atem newly consecrated as Archbishop of Upper Nile.
For the present, he will also remain Bishop of Renk. The Diocese of Renk has had since 2001 a companion diocese relationship with the Diocese of Chicago. The Renk Diocese has covenantal relationships with a number of U.S. churches, including St. Michael’s Episcopal in Barrington IL, Christ Church Episcopal Alexandria VA, and St. Mary’s Episcopal in Arlington VA.
Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Garang Atem at the time of his Consecration as Bishop of Renk in 2007.
Ambassador Don Booth, now designated Special U.S. Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, was scheduled to visit both countries the week of May 9. The State Department spokesman emphasized May 8 that the U.S. Government remains particularly concerned about “the slow implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R/ARCSS), ongoing violence, and deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions” in South Sudan. Meanwhile, President Salva Kiir has dissolved the South Sudanese parliament, a first step toward reconstituting it under the terms of the R/ARCSS. The new parliament will have 550 members, all nominees (i.e., none elected) from the parties under a numerical formula. The ruling SPLM will have 332 members, the SPLM/IO 128, with 90 from other groups.
This week marks the convening of a major conference in Paris on investment and debt in Sudan. It includes major donors, representatives of the IMF and World Bank, and the Paris Club, which manages government-to-government debt. The IMF has just approved a plan which “will help mobilize the resources needed for the IMF to cover its share of debt relief to Sudan.” The conference will hopefully move Sudan demonstrably farther down the road toward elimination of its $60 billion in international debt and regular assistance from Western donors.
Executive Director
Other News and Notes
The Reverend Joseph Pager Alaak graduates from Virginia Theological Seminary.
From AFRECS Board Member the Rev. Richard Jones
The Reverend Joseph Pager Alaak, standing alone and in conversation with Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry, after the Virginia Seminary Commencement May 13
Reverend Joseph Pager Alaak received his Master’s in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary on Saturday, May 13 and immediately began his drive home back to Nebraska, where he is the priest serving South Sudanese congregations in both Omaha and Lincoln. Bishop Curry delivered the Commencement address, his first public appearance since the restriction of public gatherings as a public health measure over a year ago. Guests at the ceremony were safely spread out and masked.
Other News from Various Sources
From Sudans Post 05/03/2021 and Sudan Tribune 04/30/2021
The Government and UNICEF urge parents to send their children, especially girls, back to school
As learning institutions officially reopened across South Sudan after almost 15 months of closure due to COVID 19, both the government and UNICEF urged parents to return all students to schools.
Before the pandemic, UNICEF said, 2.8 million children were out of school due to poverty, inequality, cultural beliefs, and nomadic lifestyles. However, with the COVID-19 closure, an additional two million children were reportedly sent home.
South Sudan Minister of General Education, Awut Deng Acuil is calling upon parents and caregivers to send their pregnant and lactating daughters to school. Multiple reports have appeared around increases in child marriage and early pregnancies during the school closure.
https://www.sudanspost.com/govt-urges-parents-to-send-pregnant-lactating-girls-back-to-schools/
https://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article69505
From Radio Tamazuj 05/05 and 08/2021 and Eye Radio 05/17/2021
Teacher Pay raised in W. Equatoria and issues with Private School Fees
Western Equatoria State government on Monday this week announced a salary increment for all teachers in public schools in the state. Governor Futuyo, speaking at the official reopening of the schools, said his government would increase the salary of teachers to 10,000 SSP monthly, an equivalent of 22 USD. Teachers in the state have been receiving a monthly salary of about 1,500 SSP, which was often paid late.
In response to complaints from parents about significant rises in fees at private schools in South Sudan, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction issued a directive instructing private schools not to raise school fees in the newly reopened schools. The directive sets a ceiling of $80,000 South Sudanese Pounds for school fees and warned that action will be taken against any private or faith-based school which does not follow the new directive.
Private school leaders in South Sudan are threatening to close their institutions if the government does not revoke its decision to limit school fees. They urged the government to withdraw their decision and enter negotiations with the schools to reach a healthy settlement on the issue.
https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/w-equatoria-state-government-gives-teachers-a-pay-rise
https://eyeradio.org/schools-cautioned-against-hiking-fees/
https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/private-schools-threaten-to-down-tools-in-south-sudan
From Eye Radio 05/03 and 04/18/2021
U.S. calls for protection of aid workers and journalists is South Sudan
By Koang Pal Chang (05/03/2021) and Daniel Danis (04/28/2021)
Larry André, U.S Acting Ambassador to South Sudan makes a point during an interview on Eye Radio Friday, April 16, 2021. Credit | Lou Nelson/Eye Radio
The U.S. Embassy in Juba is calling on the government to hold accountable those responsible for the attack on humanitarian workers in JamJang, Ruweng administrative area. Over the weekend, angry youths stormed the compound where aid workers and their families were living. There are reports that the staff were threatened, robbed, and beaten.
The angry locals were reportedly demanding job opportunities they said are being taken by natives of other states. The embassy acknowledged the critical need for better employment and economic opportunities across South Sudan, particularly for young people, but condemned the attack and demanded guarantees for the safety and security of humanitarian workers.
In another statement, the U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Juba has called on the government to protect journalists, and an end to harassment, intimidation, and detention of journalists in South Sudan, He said that the government should facilitate the work of journalism professionals rather than censuring or restricting them.
Ambassador André said that the U.S government recognize the key role that a free press plays in democracy and urged the international community to support media in the country. The U.S. diplomat called on journalists to adhere to the highest standards of conduct and ethics, which he said will help them gain important support from those around them.
https://eyeradio.org/u-s-demands-arrest-of-those-who-attacked-aid-workers-in-jamjang/
https://eyeradio.org/u-s-govt-calls-for-protection-of-journalists-in-s-sudan/
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!
As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with the gift of the Spirit and the charge to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, we continue to be grateful that contributions from you, our supporters, nurture AFRECS in expanding our impact. You make a difference in the essential peacebuilding work of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. We hope you will consider another generous gift — or whatever you can afford in this time of COVID. You can contribute online at https://afrecs.org or send a check made out to AFRECS to P.O. Box 3327, Alexandria, VA 22302.
This issue of the AFRECS E-Blast was compiled by Board member Caroline Klam.