House of Lords: Archbishop asks question on South Sudan

13/07/2016

Lords

Archbishop Justin Welby this week called on the leaders of South Sudan to immediately cease hostilities and accept meditation. 

 

Archbishop Justin Welby: My Lords, having been in the South Sudan twice in the last two years and in Kenya a week ago, is the Noble Lord the Minister encouraging the government of Kenya to use the powers it has in its own area – as most of the leaders of South Sudan have their families, their farms, their education of their children in Kenya – to use that pressure to encourage them to observe their ceasefire? And what is Her Majesty’s Government doing to support the work of the peace and reconciliation commission led by the Anglican Archbishop of South Sudan and Sudan?

The Earl of Courtown: My Lords, our primary objective is … to engage with regional leaders to bring an end to the crisis. My Hon. Friend the Minister for Africa, Mr Duddridge, spoke to the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, an important player in the area, on Monday, and encouraged the region to press the parties to end the crisis. The United Kingdom attended the conference in Kenya earlier this week, on the 11th, and encouraged the regional players to take firm action. But we will take careful note of what the Noble Lord said and I will discuss it further with colleagues.

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