The Catholic Bishops of South Sudan have called on government and opposition leaders to immediately halt fighting and take concrete steps to fully implement the Revitalized Peace Agreement, citing growing insecurity, displacement, and humanitarian suffering across the country.
Addressing reporters in Juba while issuing a communique by the bishops, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba, denounced the recent clashes between government forces, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), and other armed groups, particularly in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states. The church said such fighting is worsening the political, security, and humanitarian situation.
The prelate urged leaders to stop sidelining genuine dialogue and to reject military solutions to political and social differences, insisting on immediate engagement in honest discussions for peace.
“Do you have this country and its people in your heart, or are you only concerned with the pursuit of power and wealth?” Ameyu bishops asked, urging all parties to engage in sincere dialogue and peacebuilding.
He expressed concern over widespread displacement, hunger, and inhuman conditions, noting a surge in armed robbery targeting motorists and civilians, including in Juba.
The cardinal also condemned inflammatory social media messages that promote tribalism and incite violence.
The church specifically denounced remarks attributed to General Johnson Olony, Deputy Chief of South Sudan Defense Forces, who allegedly called for indiscriminate violence against civilians in Jonglei. The bishops described the statement as “a direct call to genocide” and urged fighting forces not to act on such orders.
Amyeu called on all leaders in the unity government and opposition groups to stop the war, embrace peace, and listen to the people they claim to represent. The communique emphasized that South Sudanese citizens are human beings, not property, and urged leaders to respond to their desire for peace and freedom.
Cardinal Ameyu concluded by calling on clergy, religious communities, and all people of goodwill to dedicate time to prayer for peace, invoking Mary, the Queen of Peace, to intercede for the nation.
“This country is more than any human desire,” he stressed. “Let us care for it and protect ourselves as long as God gives us a new day.”