The Catholic bishops of South Sudan called for an end to the ongoing violence and destruction in the country in an emotional letter addressed to the South Sudanese government and citizens.
The letter, titled “Let Justice and Peace Embrace," was published following the annual meeting of the Catholic Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of South Sudan. The meeting was held from July 7 through July11.
"It is with heavy hearts of grief that we are now conveying our dismay about what we have been confronting on [a] daily basis: reports of aerial bombardments and shelling, armed ambushes on roads, rivers and highways, military confrontations, shrinking of civic space and media restrictions, deadly clashes at cantonment sites and villages, abductions and rapes, devastating raids at community levels, detentions and alarming hostilities and insecurity across South Sudan," said the bishops.
This violence, they said, is resulting in "communities torn apart, innocent lives lost, people injured," as well as forced gang recruitment and people being displaced from their homes.
Have we not suffered enough from the deadly guns and senseless killings in our past bitter experiences? Have we not seen too often how violence has silenced the hopes of our people and crippled peace and development?
South Sudan was established as an independent country on July 9, 2011, following a successful referendum for independence from Sudan.
Since then, however, the country has experienced near-constant violence, a situation the bishops say is only worsening.
Pope Francis visited the country in 2023.
"As your shepherds, please listen to our plea and exhortation. The ongoing politically motivated violence is not justified; it is a betrayal of your noble calling," said the bishops.
The statement continued, "Cease from it and prove yourselves to be the legitimate and the true protectors of the people of South Sudan, the guardians of the constitution as the supreme law of the country and the stewards of territorial integrity."
As Christians and believers in God, we are called to be witnesses of peace and justice. We urge you to become instruments of reconciliation and healing.
To address the violence, the bishops called for "immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access across all conflict zones," as well as the "establishment of protected corridors for aid delivery" and a tax exemption for faith-based and humanitarian organizations helping the South Sudanese people.
"Let this Jubilee Year of Hope be a new dawn for South Sudan," said the bishops.
"Let it be a time of national conversion and reconciliation, a moment when the guns are totally silenced all over, and the wounds begin to heal among the communities, the politicians and the military and armed groups."
