Is Forgiveness A Possible Route Towards Reconciliation in South Sudan?
Date: 16 April 2015
Location: 2:30pm - 5:30pm, Gudele Hall, Juba Grand Hotel
Organizer: The Sudd Institute & UNDP
At the dawn of independence, the Republic of South Sudan clearly stood as a nation in transition. To repair the immeasurable damage exerted by the intermittent civil wars it fought with its now northern neighbor, Sudan, the new republic seriously needed to address the dark legacy these wars had left behind in terms of the battered social fabric and eroded institutional capacity. Certainly, it is an understatement to suggest that the outbreak of the ongoing deadly war in mid December 2013 in the world’s youngest nation has further compounded the situation.
To image a situation whereby the current conflict comes to an end, and the kinds of actions that would be required in order to chart a new course forward, the Sudd Institute in partnership with UNDP is sponsoring a public lecture on forgiveness as an alternative way that could be used to bring about peace and unity in South Sudan. The lecture aims to spur public discussions and dialogue on whether forgiveness really provides a possible route for South Sudanese to attain national reconciliation and stability. It examines forgivingness as a process that allows both the victim and offender to reset their relations.
Speaker
The Rev. Dr. Bernard Oliya Suwa, Visiting Fellow, The Sudd Institute
Discussants
Hon. Deng Dau, Chairperson, War Disabled Commission
Justice Ajonye Perpetua, Chairperson, Central Equatoria Land Commission
Gen. James Hoth Mai, SPLA Former Chief of the General Staff
Moderator
Fr. Mathew Pagan, Vice Chancellor, Catholic University of South Sudan