Bishops warn South Sudanese against reprisals for killings in Sudan

The bishops appealed to “our beloved South Sudanese people to exercise restraint and compassion while the pain and anger stemming from these events are understandable”.

The Catholic bishops of Sudan and South Sudan condemned attacks by the Sudanese military on South Sudanese citizens in Sudan’s eastern Al Jazira State.

Sudanese soldiers and allied groups killed at least 29 South Sudanese people during the capture of the city of Wad Madani from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which surrendered the city on 11 January.

The killing provoked retaliatory attacks against Sudanese refugees and Sudanese-run businesses in South Sudan. Club-wielding youths broke into shops and homes, beating any Sudanese people they found. At least three Sudanese citizens were killed as police attempted to disperse the crowds.

On Friday South Sudan’s inspector general Abraham Manyuat ordered a curfew from 6pm to 6am to prevent “criminals” from taking advantage of the situation.

Police “are responsible for public order and public health and the public have the freedom to move and to work, they can do whatever they want.  However, we will take additional measures. For example, we should be ready to close work at 6pm,” Manyuat said.

A statement from the Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference on Friday, signed by its president Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mula of Juba, condemned “the cold-blooded murder of innocent South Sudanese”.

“Such violence, rooted in hatred and oppression, has no place among [us],” it said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families, and we stand in solidarity with those who grieve this unbearable tragedy. We must remember that the driving forces behind these acts of violence are oppressive regimes and systems that dehumanise individuals for their ethnicity, beliefs, or political affiliations.”

The bishops warned against retaliatory attacks, appealing to “our beloved South Sudanese people to exercise restraint and compassion while the pain and anger stemming from these events are understandable”.

“We implore you to refrain from seeking revenge against Sudanese refugees in our nation. Many of these individuals are fleeing the same tyrannical government that has perpetrated violence against us. They too, are victims of a brutal system that shows no mercy,” they said, adding that revenge would lead to more suffering “deepening the cycle of hatred”.

“Let us extend our hands in solidarity to those who sought shelter among us, recognising their plight as part of our shared human experience,” they said.

“We are proud of the spirit of unity and resilience that characterises our South Sudanese communities. We must work towards healing and rebuilding, fostering an environment where every individual can feel safe and valued, regardless of their religion.”

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. Since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan in April 2023, tens of thousands have died in the fighting and more than 12 million people have been displaced, including 500,000 refugees who have fled to South Sudan.

Combatants on all sides have committed atrocities, including increasing attacks on Christians in recent months. On 7 January Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) condemned an RSF attack on 30 December on a congregation of the Sudanese Church of Christ, an Evangelical denomination, in which 14 people died.

“We are particularly alarmed by the threat issued to all Christians in the area, who are a vulnerable minority community that has suffered abuses both historically and during this conflict,” said Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s president. 

“The targeting of places of worship violates both domestic and international law, and, in the context of conflict, international humanitarian law,” he said. 

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