Stephen Ameyu Martin Cardinal Mulla|Photo by Sebit Patrick-20/12/24

Cardinal Stephen Ameyu has said the whole country is stressed due to the extreme delay to pay salaries for government employees while urging the citizens to use the Christmas to embrace peace.

Last weekend, Finance Minister Marial Dongrin Ater confirmed that the payment process for civil servants had already begun after President Salva Kiir directed him to pay one month’s salary to civil servants and organized forces by Monday this week.

In his Christmas message this morning, the Archbishop of the Catholic diocese of Juba highlighted the resilience of the citizens despite the none-payment of government employees for close to 12 months.

According to the religious leader, the church had twice this year called on the government to pay the civil servants.

Cardinal Ameyu now stresses the need for the country to rally together and talk about how to over this issue.

“I know the whole country is really stressed, the whole people are stressed and I think it is important for us to all rally together and to talk about this because we cannot stay for 12 months without salary and we expect that people will survive.

“But because the people of South Sudan are resilient, they are able to survive until today. And so, we have already appealed, asked the government several times, twice this year

“As a body of the bishop conference, we have asked them to give salary to the workers. But also, as an Ecumenical body, we have also said the salary of the civil servants should be given.”

Meanwhile, Cardinal Ameyu urges the citizens to embrace to embrace the spirit of peace and reconciliation, citing what Tumaini Initiative signals.

“Let this Christmas season be a time to embrace the spirit of peace, hope and love that Tumaini embodies. May we come together as a community, sharing kindness and compassion with one another.

“Just as Tumaini Peace Initiative fosters unity and reconciliation, let us reflect on the gift of harmony and the joy of togetherness”, he said.