Unity has been restored within the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province (EBIP) of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan following reconciliation between reverends David Akau Kuol and Peter Marial Agok after a contentious archbishop election dispute.
The disagreement arose on 18 April 2026 after the Chancellor of EBIP, Beny Gideon Mabor, disqualified Bishop David Akau from contesting the position of archbishop, citing his failure to meet the required academic qualifications, including a master’s degree in religious studies.
Following the decision, Bishop Peter Marial Agok was declared unopposed, triggering criticism from some faithful and church leaders across the province.
The diocesan bishops from the eight Episcopal dioceses under EBIP later wrote to the Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Dr. Justin Badi Arama, expressing dissatisfaction with what they described as the “imposed announcement and outcome of the proclaimed election.”
The dispute sparked fears of division within the church, with many faithful calling for dialogue and reconciliation among the clergy.
Speaking to the media after the meeting on Wednesday evening, David Akau Kuol, dean of Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province, said the dialogue was initiated under the guidance of the leadership of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and made possible through the grace of God.
“We met as Bishops of the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province to pray, to fellowship, and also to talk about the issues that arise during the emergency synod on the 18th of April 2026,” Akau said. “Today (Wednesday), with the help of our God and our leadership of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and the help of His Grace the Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, we, as Bishops from the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, particularly in the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province, come together to forgive each other.”
Akau, who is also the Bishop of Awerial Diocese in Lakes State, urged the faithful to put their differences aside to restore unity and stability within the province.
“We say to our fellow Christians, wherever they are, let us just forgive each other and forget what happened and let us move forward with the Word of God and to the Church of God as one people in Christ, as one people in God, as one family in Christ,” he appealed.
For his part, Rt. Rev. Peter Marial Agok, Bishop of Malek Rup Diocese and the Archbishop-elect of the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province, said they had resolved their differences arising from the 18 April election.
“We were not able to come back together, but we thank God today that with the help of our able Primate of ECSS, who called us to come and have a meeting with him, with the Elders, and all the Bishops, we have resolved those differences we had during the election,” he said.
Marial said they would work together as one people for the progress and unity of the Internal Province.
“May God bless us, may God bless ECSS, and we thank God,” he said. “Now we are one. We are going to work as one people for the progress of our Internal Province as well as ECSS. Let’s embrace peace.”
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