Moru congregation accuses Juba Diocese of “criminal assault” over property and autonomy
By Ajah Jennifer
The administrative rift within the Episcopal Church of South Sudan reached a violent clash on Sunday, January 11, 2026. In a press conference held on Wednesday 14 January the leadership of the Moru Congregation of Juba condemned what they termed a “coordinated criminal attack” on their worshippers by elements of the Juba Diocese.
The incident, which occurred across three different church sites in Juba, has left the community in shambles and raised urgent questions about the intersection of church governance, property rights, and state security.
According to the Moru Congregation’s chairperson Canon Oneil Yosia Damial, the violence was not a spontaneous outburst but a pre-planned operation. He alleged that around January 8, they received credible intelligence that the Juba Diocese, headed by the Most Rev. Dr. Justin Badi Arama, intended to seize their churches by force.
Despite formal letters sent to the Archbishop and the Central Equatoria State government to halt the plan, the attack reportedly commenced at 7am on Sunday at three locations, namely Nyakuron Moru Congregation, Munuki and Gudele Moru Congregation. He stated that at the Nyakuron Moru Congregation, worshippers were reportedly beaten with sticks and iron bars.
Eyewitnesses claimed an officer identified as “Chan Abdallah Chan” brandished a pistol to intimidate the congregation. While in the Munuki and Gudele Moru Congregation, the attempt to enter the church forcefully were stopped by the church members. “They started attacking our members, resulting in severe injuries to several women, children, the elderly, and the youth,” Canon Oneil stated.
The Moru leadership also stated the existence of a letter dated January 7, 2026, from the Rt. Rev. Jackson George Gabriel to the Minister of Local Government, requesting security support.
They claim that instead of protecting citizens, the police actively participated in the assault and later detained four injured worshippers at the Mauna Police Station. “We felt there was a conspiracy somewhere,” the leadership noted, pointing to the collaboration between certain church leaders and security personnel.
Rev. Dr. Wesley Bokati Nathan, a member of the church stated that the dispute centers on a 2008 decision by the then-administration of the Juba Diocese to dissolve the Moru Congregation’s administrative structure. The Moru leadership maintains that their congregation has existed since 1937 and that their churches were built on land purchased by congregation members without diocesan funding. He stated that on May 10, 2025, the congregation officially reverted to its original autonomous status, a move they now declare “non-negotiable.”
The church leadership also accused the Juba Diocese of attempting to seize church properties to turn them into commercial investments.
They cited some sections within Juba, claiming they originally belonged to the Moru Congregation before being converted into business ventures by the diocese.
”The whole thing behind this current attack is to control our resources,” said John Natana, a legal representative for the church. “It is unspiritual. It has nothing to do with the word of God; it is a matter of business. The church has gotten itself into business, and that is where we are in trouble.”
Despite the incident, the Moru Congregation stated they remain open to “discussing the parameters of cooperation,” provided their administrative and financial autonomy is recognized. However, they warned that they are currently working with a legal team to hold specific individuals accountable for the “heinous and brutal aggression.”
”We are not seeking a separate entity from the ECSS,” Dr. Nathan clarified. “We want our relationship to be restored to how it was before 2008. You don’t impose yourself on a congregants,” he said.
The Juba Diocese was yet to respond to the allegations by the time of going to press.
