| The Catholic bishops of South Sudan have expressed deep concern about the continuing violent conflicts in the country, attributing them to the misuse of military action at the expense of dialogue to address socio-political challenges.
In a joint statement released after their annual plenary meeting of the Ecclesiastical Province of Juba (7-11 July), Church leaders lamented an escalation of violence and insecurity in the final months of 2025, which is plunging the population into ‘fear, displacement, suffering and despair’. They stressed that these incidents are a direct consequence of the failure to implement the security provisions set out in the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on Comprehensive Peace and Security (R-ARCSS). The bishops denounced ‘air strikes, armed ambushes, deadly clashes, kidnappings, rapes’ and the ‘reduction of civic space and restrictions on the media,’ which are tearing communities apart and causing immense suffering. All of this demonstrates a lack of ‘concrete steps towards peace and reconciliation.’ To address the crisis, Catholic leaders are calling for ‘immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access’ to all conflict zones, the creation of ‘protected corridors for the delivery of aid’ and tax exemption on humanitarian goods. Echoing the words of Pope Francis during his ecumenical visit to South Sudan in February 2023 (“It is time for peace!… No more bloodshed, no more conflict, no more violence‘), the bishops reiterated the urgent need to ’turn the page‘ and put these principles into practice so that South Sudan can be ’a good country among the community of nations”. Read the original article on ACIAFRICA |
Date Published:14July 2025 Author:Alice, Officer
Article Tags: Latest news, South Sudan, Solidarity, Peace, Bishops of South Sudan |
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