South Sudan's leading church figures are intensifying pressure on the country's political and armed groups to end hostilities, warning that civilians are paying the highest price as fighting, intercommunal violence, and armed youth mobilisation continue to spread across the country. The South Sudan Council of Churches issued the warning amid renewed clashes in Upper Nile State and persistent insecurity in Jonglei State and the Pibor Administrative Area.
Church leaders say communities in these areas are facing deaths, displacement, abductions, and growing restrictions on humanitarian access. Most Rev. Dr. Justin Badi Arama, Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Chairperson of the South Sudan Council of Churches, made the call, highlighting the continued displacement, killings, abductions, insecurity along major roads, armed youth mobilisation, and intercommunal and political violence affecting communities across several parts of the country.
In Upper Nile State, particularly Nasir and Ulang counties, renewed armed confrontations and the mobilisation of armed youth have resulted in deaths, displacement, and disruption of humanitarian access. Arama also raised concerns over insecurity in Jonglei State, including Nyirol, Uror, Ayod, Akobo, Twic East, and Duk counties, as well as the Pibor Administrative Area, where fighting, intercommunal violence, and armed youth mobilisation are severely affecting civilians.
Arama further expressed concern over intercommunal and revenge-related violence in Warrap State, including Tonj North, Gogrial East, and the Abyei Administrative Area. In the Equatoria region, Arama said insecurity and attacks along major roads, including the Juba-Mundri, Juba-Torit, and Juba-Bor routes, are threatening civilians and disrupting humanitarian operations.
Arama called on the government, traditional authorities, armed groups, and communities to take immediate steps to protect civilians, end violence and revenge attacks, ensure humanitarian access, and commit to dialogue. He specifically called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, an end to the mobilisation and arming of youth for violence, the protection of civilians, and the securing of roads and river transport corridors connecting communities.
Church leaders urged communities to reject hatred, retaliation, and violence, and instead work towards peace, reconciliation, and the protection of their shared future. Arama concluded by calling for restraint and dialogue and offered a prayer for healing and wisdom for the country's leaders, saying, "May God heal our wounded nation and give wisdom to our leaders. May South Sudan become a nation where every community can live in peace and dignity."
The South Sudan Council of Churches' statement comes as the country continues to experience decades of conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Church leaders are advocating for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to affected communities, as well as stronger local peace and reconciliation mechanisms.
Key points
- The South Sudan Council of Churches is calling for an immediate end to violence and hostilities.
- Civilians are facing deaths, displacement, abductions, and growing restrictions on humanitarian access.
- Church leaders are urging communities to reject hatred, retaliation, and violence, and work towards peace, reconciliation, and the protection of their shared future.
