A group of Anglican Bishops posed for a photo after the opening of House of Bishops meeting in Juba on Tue, 21st Nov 2023. (Photo: ECSS).

63 bishops of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan have reiterated calls on President Salva Kiir to swear in the electoral bodies’ leadership, saying the time to election is too short.

The leaders and members of the National Constitutional Review Commission and the National Elections Commission have not taken oath since the two bodies were reconstituted by the president.

However, members of the Political Parties Council were already sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, November 20.

This week, 63 Bishops representing 61 Dioceses of the Episcopal Church held a meeting in Juba under the theme; “Making Good Use of God’s Resources.”

Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, commended the unity government for reconstituting three key electoral bodies and swearing-in officials of the Political Parties Council.

He urged the government to swear-in members of the Constitutional Review and National Election Commission.

“We appreciate the revitalized government of national unity for reconstituting the political party’s council, the constitution review commission and the electoral commission and for swearing in the political party’s council,” he said.

“We urge the government to urgently swear in the members of the constitutional review commission, and the electoral commission to start their work given the fact that the remaining time for elections is too short.”

Archbishop Justin Badi further urged the transitional government and development partners to avail necessary resources to the National Elections Commission to enable them to execute their mandate.

On the other hand, Arama further urged bishops and clergies to disseminate the messages of peace, before, during and after the general elections.

“We declare the church’s readiness to engage in civic education as soon as possible.”

“We also urge the bishops and clergy of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan to engage the citizens in promoting non-violence before, during and after the elections.”