“There is widespread concern because the peace is fragile and constantly in peril. Let us hope that talks between the political parties will resume soon, so that the population will not have to suffer the consequences of the power struggles of the ruling elite”, Monsignor Christian Carlassare, Bishop of Bentiu, South Sudan, told SIR. These past days have been fraught with anxiety and tension in the African country that only in 2018 managed to put an end to a violent civil war that left more than 400,000 people dead. The peace agreements that led to the creation of a government formed by the two opponents, Salva Kiir (President) and Riek Machar (First Vice President), are now in jeopardy following the arrest last week of Vice President Machar, his wife and some twenty other political opponents. The UN Commission’s inquiry into violations in South Sudan has warned of a risk of a “catastrophic relapse into war”, which would potentially threaten the lives of millions of people. The situation has been exacerbated by the presence of Ugandan troops and tanks in the country at the request of President Kiir, prompting the UN to call on the international community to act swiftly “to prevent South Sudan from imploding, thereby aggravating the volatility of this fragile region.” In the text he wrote for the Angelus, Pope Francis renewed his “heartfelt appeal to all leaders to do their utmost to reduce tensions in the country. Diverging positions must be put aside and all parties must engage in constructive dialogue with courage and responsibility.”
Thousands of people are fleeing. Thousands of people are already crossing the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia, fleeing fighting between government forces and armed groups. According to the UN, 10,000 people have crossed into Ethiopia since the beginning of March. The UK, Germany, Norway and the US have all urged their citizens to leave the country. The European Union has also expressed its “deep concern” over Riek Machar’s arrest and has temporarily withdrawn EU staff from the country. Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been appointed by Kenyan President William Ruto as a special envoy to South Sudan and is currently trying to broker a peace deal.
The bishops are sounding the alarm, voicing “concern about the escalating violence.” The Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Sudan and South Sudan issued the following statement in this delicate context: “We, the Bishops of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sudan and South Sudan, speak with one united voice, grieved and alarmed by the escalating violence and deteriorating political climate in South Sudan”, reads the message dated March 28, signed by the Archbishop of Juba and the President of the Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, and all the bishops. “The people of South Sudan have suffered for too long. War has taken away their children, their homes, their future, and once again the dark clouds of war are looming over our nation”, they wrote. “Since the outbreak of this new crisis, the Church has consistently called for restraint, for dialogue, and for efforts to respect the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS),” they said. “We reiterate our call on President Salva Kiir, all political leaders and the parties to the agreement, including the transitional government, to honour their commitments to the people of South Sudan and to resist the temptation to resume fighting,” they stressed.
The Bishops call for opposition to reject “hate speech, tribal incitement and misinformation, especially via social media.
“Do not let your hearts be hardened. This land belongs to you and your children. Do not let it be drenched in blood again.”
During a press conference that took place last Saturday in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Cardinal Mulla pointed out that the current situation marks a tragic reversal of the peace process. The archbishop also condemned the involvement of the Ugandan army in South Sudan, which is only making the situation worse. “The arrest of opposition leaders and the involvement of foreign military forces, in particular the use of the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), have only increased fear and mistrust. These interventions risk transforming our beloved country into a battlefield for external interests and political manipulation”, he added.
The Church offers to mediate. The Archbishop of Juba warned that if South Sudan were to relapse into large-scale violence, the consequences would be devastating: loss of life, breakdown of national unity and destruction of the country’s fragile institutions, jeopardising the future of future generations. “Politicians’ failure to care for the poor, the displaced, the orphaned and the widowed will not be forgotten by God,” he warned. The message ends with an appeal to the entire population not to give up hope and to work towards a future of peace.
The Church has offered to serve as a mediator in the talks and to be a voice for those who have none,
calling on the international community and all people of good will to take a stand against the war.
Caritas South Sudan likewise endorsed the message of the Sudanese and South Sudanese Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSCB) that warns against the intensifying of violence and of political tensions in the country. Caritas South Sudan remains committed to peace and reconciliation in the country and calls on all citizens and authorities to work together for a more stable and peaceful future. South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, is one of the poorest countries in the world despite its considerable oil resources.
