Renewed Efforts To “Achieve Peace” In South Sudan In Wake Of TB Joshua’s Visit

Several new developments in the pursuit of sustainable peace have unfolded in the world’s youngest nation, South Sudan, just weeks after the visit of Nigerian cleric TB Joshua. 

Yesterday, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced the recalling of its South Sudan ambassador, Thomas Hushek, in its ongoing “re-evaluation of the U.S. relationship with the Government of South Sudan.”

“The United States stands with the people of South Sudan in their pursuit of peace and will work in partnership with the region to support efforts to achieve peace and a successful political transition in South Sudan,” the statement from the Department of State read.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his main opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny agreed during a meeting in Uganda early this month to extend the pre-transitional period for three months after a consensus that the steps viable for a unity government formation were not yet in place.

In addition, several South Sudanese opposition factions who in 2018 did not sign the Addis Ababa peace agreement announced they were ready to re-engage in peace negotiations after a meeting held in Rome.

Nine members of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) gathered behind closed doors for three days in the headquarters of a Catholic charity where they agreed to sign a common communique in which they commited themselves to “political dialogue and negotiations to contribute to the peace process.”

In his message on November 12^th 2019, TB Joshua publicly prayed for peace at Juba’s Presidential Palace in the presence of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, his cabinet, military representatives and thousands of local residents. 

“Time has come to put our differences behind us,” the Nigerian cleric told the nation’s leaders, stressing that “peace has no price”.

His message clearly struck a chord with the public, having been viewed over one million times on the social media platforms of YouTube and Facebook since the video was uploaded by Emmanuel TV. 

Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist…

How TB Joshua Reconciled the Son of Liberia’s President with The Man Who Murdered His Father!

Why This Reconciliation Contributed To Peace In Liberia…

Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua has just returned from a peace-brokering mission in South Sudan where he led President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his cabinet in prayer for peace at the nation’s Presidential Palace.

However, records reveal this is not the cleric’s first intervention when it comes to brokering peace on a national scale.

In November 2000, Joshua oversaw a heartfelt reconciliation that touched the nation of Liberia between Samuel Doe Jr and the man responsible for gruesomely slaughtering his father, Prince Yormie Johnson.

In the height of Liberia’s brutal civil war, Johnson – then a rebel leader – captured President Samuel Doe in Monrovia and tortured him publicly before executing him in footage seen on news reports around the world.

“Every night I went to sleep, I prayed that one day God would give me to the opportunity to meet this man and kill him to revenge the death of my father,” Samuel Doe Jr publicly admitted during his visit to The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN).

Doe Jr said he harbored this “grudge” for ten long years. Unbeknownst to him and his mother Nancy who came to seek prayers at The SCOAN, the former warlord had ‘repented’, become a Christian and was in attendance at Joshua’s church.

Spotting Johnson amidst the large church crowd, Doe Jr said he felt his blood “run cold” and looked for a weapon to enact revenge.

“I felt like running inside the kitchen to pick up a knife,” he recounted. However, Doe Jr was ‘supernaturally restrained’ from carrying out his vengeful intentions as he was “under the control of the Holy Spirit”.

After publicly confessing what was ‘hindering his salvation’, Joshua counselled the Doe family about the need for forgiveness, after which he prayed for them.

“If Jesus can forgive us of our sins, then who am I to hold a grudge against a child of God,” Samuel announced to rapturous applause from the congregation.

Prince Yormie Johnson then came forward from the crowd and the duo warmly embraced, subsequently joined by Liberia’s former First Lady Nancy Doe and TB Joshua. 

In a meeting the next week, Johnson revealed the reconciliation went beyond just the two families but extended to the warring tribes in Liberia. 

“This reconciliation will go a long way to unite our two ethnic groups. The war in Liberia started between us and the reconciliation will have to begin with us,” he revealed. 

Liberia has enjoyed peace nationwide for over fifteen years and is steadily cementing its status as a growing democracy in West Africa. 

Prince Yormie Johnson has since returned to Liberia as a Senator and plays an active role in his country’s politics.

In the run-up to Liberia’s last elections, Johnson visited The SCOAN with George Weah, eventually choosing to endorse the football legend, which proved pivotal to his eventual ascension to Liberia’s Presidency.

TB Joshua also played an important reconciliatory role in Tanzania in the wake of the divisive 2015 elections which saw John Magufuli emerge victorious. 

Joshua visited the East African nation, holding extensive meetings with both President Magufuli and opposition leader Edward Lowassa, both of whom had previously visited his church in Lagos.

Citizens acknowledged Joshua’s visit significantly reduced the palpable tensions that existed in the aftermath of the disputed elections and restored peace to the nation. 

Ihechukwu Njoku

What Chance has Prophet TB Joshua of SCOAN for Enduring Peace in South Sudan?

The civil war in  South Sudan started after December 2013  when President Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar and ten others of attempting a coup d'état. Many attempts had been made and severally by neighbouring countries, the African Union, United Nations to end the war but with little result so far. The United Nations has peacekeepers in that country. Several ceasefire agreements had been signed but they didn't endure.  Briefly, this is the messy situation where prophet TB Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Nigeria is attempting a peace mission. The question now is "What chances have SCOAN prophet for peace in South Sudan?"

It is now well-circulated that on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, the President of South Sudan together with his government officials had welcomed prophet TB Joshua upon his arrival at Juba International Airport, on a peace mission. Prophet TB Joshua was quoted saying, “The time has come for us to put our differences behind us. This is the voice of God. Our leaders should overcome their division and agree to work together for the good of the country". This is a bold statement and the entire world is awaiting a positive outcome. 

South Sudan is perhaps the youngest nation amongst the committee of nations in the United Nations. Hitherto it has a long history as part of Sudan where it broke away after a protected civil war, a British colony like Nigeria. Unless a lasting peace is found for this country it may end up a country dead on arrival. This is where prophet TB Joshua's peace mission is significant. The second very import reason is whether prophets can end wars where the army generals fail with all their modern warfare.

We read the story how by divine intervention the people of Israel were led out of Egypt and how when the same Israelites had remained in captivity in Babylon a divine intervention also came after 70 years for their freedom. In each case, it was peacefully negotiated. All that would be said is how to pray along with prophets of God on peace missions in our today troubled world. God is not limited by our constraints and can move as He wills at any time. The Church of Jesus Christ is currently facing diverse oppositions, maybe because the Devil knows it's time up for him. Hence a national crusade might also be envisaged for that part of Africa, for total deliverance from the yokes of war and division. If the South Sudanese, a fairly homogeneous people, would agree to work with one accord with Jesus Christ their land would be healed and their citizens blessed. We shall continually pray with prophet TB Joshua on this enormous task for another miracle to happen here. With God, we are reassured that everything is possible. 

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria