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The Catholic bishops of Sudan and South Sudan are calling for urgent reforms within the ruling SPLM and other political parties in South Sudan.

The bishops also called for reforms within the organized forces in order, they say, to promote cohesion and discourage the formation of militias.

The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, told the press that the fundamental reforms they are calling for will help uphold democracy and rule of law in South Sudan.

“The bishops call for urgent democratic reform within the SPLM and all the political parties in this country. We call for better governance across the nation and for an end to personalized political power which fails to serve the best interest of our communities. We call for the development of institutions that serve the local communities and uphold the values of our young nation. We call for an end to corruption in high places which is denying the poor the services they are entitled to, with this breeding resentment and disillusionment towards the institutions of our state,” he said.

Cardinal Wako added that the bishops are calling for reconciliation to end the crisis in the country.

“We call for the promotion of reconciliation, the process that involves truth telling, knowing what happened when violence erupted between the communities and why it has happened. Thereafter one can speak of accountability, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence. These processes will be fundamental for the survival of our nation,” he added.

Cardinal Wako said the Catholic bishops are calling for the Church to be included in the next round of talks between the government and the SPLA/SPLM –in Opposition in Addis Ababa from next week.

The Catholic bishops of Sudan and South Sudan held a 10-day extraordinary assembly in Juba which focused on pastoral and social issues in the two countries.