he Most Rev. Engineer Elias Taban Parangi, Archbishop of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and Uganda, shook hand with President Kiir in 2022|Photo credit|Courtesy

I am writing to express a concern that weighs heavily on my heart regarding the leadership of our President, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit. As someone who has dedicated a significant part of my life to the struggle for our nation, and a global religious leader; I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the current state of affairs and the challenges we face.

It is with a sense of urgency that I address the issue of betrayal that sometimes permeates our efforts to support the President in his quest for a lasting legacy. I believe that the aspirations we hold for a better future for South Sudan and recognition for the President’s family, both locally and globally, are noble and achievable. However, it is disheartening to witness how certain individuals, perhaps out of self-interest or misguided loyalty, have created barriers that prevent the President from seeing the truth of our situation.

As a fellow veteran of the Anyanya One(child soldier) and SPLA/M, I understand the sacrifices that have been made for our country. Our shared experiences should serve as a foundation for unity and collaboration, rather than division. It is crucial that we rally around our President, providing him with the honest counsel and support he needs to navigate the complexities of leadership especially in the struggle for lasting peace and prosperity for all South Sudanese. I and the President are just one year apart in age; what more do we need in life beside living behind a peaceful and prosperous future for our beloved nation and good name for our family members.

As a man of God I want to say the true enemies of our President and his administration are not those who stand in opposition, but rather those who claims to be close friends to him, eating with him and fail to present the unvarnished reality of our circumstances. It is our duty to ensure that he is informed and empowered to make decisions that will benefit our nation and secure a legacy that we can all be proud of.

Let us come together as a community of loyal supporters, committed to fostering an environment where truth and transparency prevail. By doing so, we can help our President achieve the vision we all share for a prosperous and peaceful South Sudan. Anyone misleading our President listen carefully, “the blood of the innocent dying of hunger and insecurity are crying daily before God and what ever you are accumulating for yourself you will not enjoy to the 4th generations of your children says the Lord.”

Thank you for taking the time to consider my thoughts. I remain hopeful that, together, we can work towards a brighter future for our nation.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, The Most Rev. Engineer Elias Taban Parangi, Archbishop of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and Uganda, and Chairman of the African Governing Council Executive Board of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, an alliance representing approximately 400 million members across 51 African countries.

These views do not necessarily reflect the editorial position, policies, or opinions of Eye Radio, its management, staff, or affiliates. Eye Radio publishes this contribution in the interest of promoting public dialogue and informed discussion on matters of public concern.