South Sudan Church begs warring factions to return to dialogue

‘As shepherds and leaders in this country, we are alarmed and surprised by the total disregard to the full implementation of the peace agreement,’ said Cardinal Mulla.

The Archbishop of Juba Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla called for peace and dialogue in South Sudan, condemning renewed fighting in parts of the country.

Cardinal Mulla made the appeal as fighting between government forces, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and other armed groups triggered mass displacement and hunger in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states.

“Last year, we raised concerns twice … We are now coming again with urgency to reiterate our appeal for dialogue, unity, peace and reconciliation,” said Mulla, in a statement on 27 January signed in his capacity as president of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference,

In 2018, warring factions signed the Revitalised Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The pact ended a five-year civil war that started barely two years after independence in a dispute between President Salva Kiir and his deputy, Reik Machar. It killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions of others.

R-ARCSS has longe been considered central to South Sudan’s hopes for peace, as a document that could inspire confidence among the people and open doors for sincere dialogue, if fully implemented. However, the country’s bishops fear it is being disregarded, with dialogue neglected and military action embraced as a solution to political and social differences.

“As shepherds and leaders in this country, we are alarmed and surprised by the total disregard to the full implementation of the peace agreement,” said Mulla in the statement, which urged the leaders to stop the war and embrace dialogue, listening to one another and to ordinary people.

The bishops also issued an urgent humanitarian appeal for the communities displaced by the violence in northern Jonglei and Western Equatoria.

According to Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tambura-Yambio, in northern Jonglei, the new conflict has displaced thousands of families in the Duk, Waat, Yuai and Pajuat regions.

“These families are living in extremely precarious conditions, lacking adequate food, clean water, shelter and access to basic health services. Women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities are particularly at risk,” said Kussala.

In Western Equatoria state, there is a significant internal displacement due to persistent insecurity. The people face acute food shortages, and a lack of shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and essential health and protection services. Kussala said the church was responding to the problem despite its limited resources.

“The scale of needs far exceeds the resources currently available. Without urgent intervention, the situation will further deteriorate, exposing already traumatised communities to deeper suffering,” he said.

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