“Silence is no longer an option” – Church leaders demand end to escalating violence
Church leaders have called for urgent action to protect civilians and end escalating violence across several parts of the country.
The religious leaders made the call in a joint statement signed by 12 bishops and senior clergy from different Christian denominations under the South Sudan Council of Churches.
The senior clergy expressed grave concern over the worsening security and humanitarian situation, saying continued violence is displacing communities, killing and abducting civilians, and restricting humanitarian access.
Speaking on behalf of the church leaders, Archbishop Justin Badi Arama, Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Chairperson of the South Sudan Council of Churches, said continued violence in different parts of the country is worsening the humanitarian situation.
Archbishop Badi said the church leaders can no longer remain silent about intercommunal and political violence that has devastated communities and worsened the humanitarian crisis.
“We, the church leaders of South Sudan Council of Churches, express our grave concerns over the continuing deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the country. The suffering of our people has reached a point where silence is no longer an option,” Badi said.
He appealed to armed actors to end the fighting and embrace dialogue to address their differences.
“Communities are being displaced, civilians are being killed and abducted. Roads have become dangerous. Humanitarian access is becoming difficult. Armed youth mobilization and intercommunal and political violence continue to threaten the lives and livelihoods of our people,” he lamented.
The church leaders say renewed fighting and armed youth mobilisation in parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states have resulted in deaths, displacement and disruption of humanitarian operations.
They also expressed concern over insecurity in Unity and Warrap states, where vulnerable communities continue to face violence and displacement.
In the Equatoria region, the church leaders say attacks and insecurity along major roads, including Juba-Mundri, Juba-Torit and Juba-Bor, are threatening civilians and humanitarian operations.
They say parts of Yei River County also continue to experience armed insecurity, while communities in Western and Eastern Equatoria remain affected by armed confrontations and displacement.
Archbishop Badi called on the government, traditional authorities, armed groups and communities to take immediate action to protect civilians, end violence and revenge attacks, and guarantee humanitarian access.
“We therefore call for the immediate succession of hostilities across the country, an end to the mobilization and arming of youth for violence, the protection of civilians in all parts of the country, the security of all roads and river transport corridors connecting our communities, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all affected communities,” he said.
“We therefore call upon all conflicting parties and communities to choose restraint over retaliation, dialogue over confrontation, and reconciliation over revenge. We pray that God will heal our wounded nation and give wisdom to our leaders,” he added.
The church leaders say the suffering of civilians has reached a point where silence is no longer an option.
