Catholic Bishops Condemn Renewed Fighting in South Sudan, Call for Dialogue and Peace
The Catholic Bishops of South Sudan have strongly condemned renewed fighting involving the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-iO), and other armed groups, warning that escalating violence threatens the country’s future and the lives of innocent civilians.
In a statement signed by His Eminence Stephen Ameyu Martin Cardinal Mulla, President of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSSCBC) and Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba, the bishops expressed deep alarm over worsening insecurity in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states. They also denounced alleged calls for violence against civilians, saying such rhetoric risks plunging the country into further chaos.
“This country is more than any human desire; it is a home for thousands of generations to come,” the bishops said, urging political and military leaders to immediately cease hostilities and embrace dialogue. They cautioned that South Sudan has no alternative homeland, calling on citizens and leaders alike to work toward unity rather than division.
The church leaders raised concern over what they described as a blatant disregard for the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in September 2018. They said infighting within the unity government and continued attacks and counterattacks across the country are driving displacement, hunger, and worsening humanitarian conditions.
“As shepherds and leaders in this country, we are alarmed and surprised by the total disregard for the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” the statement said, noting that insecurity continues to spread rapidly.
The bishops also highlighted a surge in armed robberies targeting motorists and civilians, including incidents reported in the capital, Juba, and other parts of the country.
Particular condemnation was directed at an alleged speech by Gen. Johnson Olony, Deputy Chief of the SSPDF for Mobilization and Disarmament, in which he was accused of calling for indiscriminate violence against civilians in Jonglei State. “Directing forces to ‘spare no lives’ is a direct call to genocide,” the bishops said, urging all armed actors to reject any orders that endanger civilians or inflame communal tensions.
Concern was also raised over the spread of hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation on social media platforms, which the bishops said fuels tribal divisions and incitement. They warned that such messaging deepens mistrust and escalates conflict.
The bishops recalled previous warnings issued to political leaders, including a July statement last year cautioning against sidelining dialogue in favor of military solutions. They reiterated that the persistent conflicts stem from the deliberate exclusion of genuine dialogue, while force is wrongly embraced as a means of resolving political and social differences.
Addressing both government and opposition leaders, the bishops posed a pointed question: whether leaders truly have the country and its people at heart, or are driven by the pursuit of power and wealth.
During their annual plenary meeting in Malakal last November, the bishops had urged all parties to fully implement the peace agreement to restore public confidence and engage in sincere dialogue. They also referenced Pope Francis’ message during his 2023 visit to South Sudan, in which he appealed for an end to war, bloodshed, and destruction, and called for a new era of peace and rebuilding.
Appealing directly to the government, the bishops urged leaders to listen to one another and to the people they claim to fight for, stressing that citizens are not property but human beings yearning for peace, dignity, and freedom.
