The United Kingdom’s ambassador to South Sudan, David Ashley, on Tuesday offered prayers for South Sudanese who lost their lives during the country’s civil wars, urging renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation.
According to a study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) covering December 2013 to April 2018, South Sudan’s civil war killed nearly 400,000 people.
Speaking at a Remembrance Day ceremony at the British Embassy in Juba, Ashley said the pain of conflict continues to weigh heavily on South Sudan more than a decade after independence.
“The conflict has caused so much suffering and, sadly, continues to do so,” Ashley said. “We remain committed to tireless efforts for peace.”
Guests at the ceremony — including diplomats, members of the Commonwealth community, South Sudanese religious leaders, and British nationals — observed a moment of silence in honour of the victims. Many wore black and white, colours symbolising mourning, along with red poppies — the international emblem of remembrance and hope.
“We mourn the civilians who have lost their lives in war, including here in South Sudan,” Ashley added. “Our collective duty is to protect the legacy of peace for which so many died.”
Most Reverend Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, led prayers for those who perished in the country’s conflicts and for families still recovering from loss.
“The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,” Archbishop Badi said. “We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives were taken in conflicts past and present.”
As the crowd stood in silence, the sound of the “Last Post” echoed across the embassy courtyard — a solemn tribute to the fallen and a call for enduring peace.
Meaning of Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, is observed each year on November 11 to mark the end of the First World War in 1918, when hostilities ceased at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month.
The day is commemorated across the United Kingdom, Commonwealth nations, and other countries to honour those who died in military service during wars and conflicts. The red poppy — one of the first flowers to bloom on the battlefields of France and Belgium after World War One — has become a symbol of remembrance and resilience, representing both sacrifice and the hope that peace can emerge from devastation.
Remembrance Day ceremonies typically feature moments of silence, wreath-laying, and prayers for unity and healing among nations affected by war.
“As we stand united in remembrance, we must also stand firm in our resolve to ensure peace becomes a lasting reality for South Sudan,” Ashley said.