Security personnel stationed along the Juba-Yei road stopped a section of religious leaders from travelling to Lainya.

The presiding bishop of the Four Square Gospel Church of South Sudan, Charles Alfred William, decried the incident, terming it an attempt to dictate to the religious leaders.

The army stopped the bishop and five other religious leaders in the Amadi area on the outskirts of Juba while they were heading to Lainya on Thursday, the cleric revealed.

Bishop Alfred said religious leaders are partners of the government and he did not understand why they were prevented from going to Lainya.

He claimed that the army that stopped them told them that the government of Central Equatoria State had instructed them not to allow them (clerics) to cross even after thoroughly searching their car and luggage.

 “We are not politicians. We don’t have anything that we are going to do there. We don’t have guns that we are carrying with us. We only have our bibles to go and pray and mobilise the people there [so] that when February 19 comes, all of us will be there for three days,” Bishop Alfred stressed.

The clergy stated that they were travelling to Lainya to undertake an intercessory programme for South Sudan, which began in Kajo Keji with three days of prayer and fasting. He said the next intercessions would be held in Morobo, Tore, and Lasu.

He condemned the action and said: “Let it end with me; not with any other bishops and pastors who are trying to bring peace to this country.”