Abdallah Baraj, the Secretary General of South Sudan Islamic Council  - Courtesy

The leader of the Muslim Community in South Sudan has welcomed the anticipated visit of Pope Francis and other faith leaders to the country on Friday afternoon.

Sheikh Abdallah Baraj Rwal, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Council recognized the efforts of Pope Francis in supporting peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.

Baraj said the papal visit is a true manifestation that all Christians and Muslims are sons of God and deserve to live peacefully with one another.

“On behalf of the Muslim Community in South Sudan, I warmly welcome this historic which crowns the efforts of his holiness the pope and his devoted endeavors in supporting peace and reconciliation in South Sudan,” he said.

The faith-based group urged the visiting pontiff to take into consideration the shaky Rome peace negotiation between the unity government and opposition groups.

The Islamic Council further says it acknowledges the efforts of Pope Francis to bridge the barrier of communication with Islamic nations in the world.

In 2019, Pope Francis made history as the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula and met with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand Imam of al-Azhar.

The two faith leaders signed a document pledging coexistence and declaring that religions must never incite hate, hostility, and bloodshed.