The latest Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan closed with a statement that conveys a level of urgency not often seen in the region’s episcopal documents. Their message, released in Malakal at the end of a week of deliberations, describes a landscape marked by intensifying violence, political fragmentation, and humanitarian collapse.
Sudan’s war continues to expand in scale and brutality. Reports from El Fasher in North Darfur document mass killings, sexual violence, and large-scale displacement at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces. Entire communities are trapped between advancing fighters, blockaded routes, and the collapse of basic services.
Vatican News remarks how, for years, Church leaders appealed for restraint and dialogue, but the Bishops say the present deterioration has reached an intolerable level.
South Sudan faces its own crisis. According to recent assessments by regional observers, the arrest of senior officials, including First Vice President Riek Machar, has accelerated political rifts inside the transitional government. Multiple armed factions have re-emerged, Ugandan troops have deployed, and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces are engaged in new offensives against SPLM/A-IO units and their allies. The Bishops warn that the fragile transition could fracture, reopening a conflict that has already cost countless lives.
In their statement, the Bishops speak with uncharacteristic bluntness about political actors in both countries. They accuse leaders of pursuing power with “maliciously selfish” intent while disregarding the dignity of the people they claim to serve. They note that both nations have significant natural resources, yet mismanagement and corruption have left most citizens in poverty. They also point to the rise of ethnic and tribal divisions exploited for political gain, a trend they call “unprecedented” in its scale and impact.
While acknowledging the severity of the moment, the Bishops also emphasize their continued commitment to the people they serve. They write that they “share your pain and suffering,” and pledge to keep working for dialogue with political leaders as well as with communities most affected by the conflict. Their call echoes the Catechism’s insistence that peace requires “respect for and development of human life” (CCC 2304), a principle that underscores every section of their message.
International concern is mounting as well. On the day the Bishops’ statement was released, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a warning about escalating atrocities in Sudan, urging an immediate halt to the influx of weapons and foreign fighters. He stressed that humanitarian access must be restored and that all parties should take concrete steps toward negotiations.
For Catholic readers and secular audiences alike, the Bishops’ message offers a stark reminder of how fragile daily life has become across much of the region. It is also a reminder that religious leaders, despite limited political leverage, continue to advocate for communities caught between armed groups and failing institutions. Their appeal is focused on one goal: opening space for dialogue before the violence becomes irreversible.
