South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Torit Condemns Deadly Attack on Parish, Demands Justice

“In the process, the soldiers also shot and hit the window and the walls of the priests' house,” he says.

The 51-year-old Catholic Church leader who was Consecrated Bishop of Torit in January 2023 further recounts, “In an attempt to conceal their action, the soldiers carried away and hid the body and covered the blood on the ground with soil in order to remove any forensic evidence.”

“Till today, the whereabouts of the body is unknown,” he says, further lamenting that in the attack, church personnel, working staff, and residents of the area were subjected to intimidation, threats, and questioning.

The South Sudanese Catholic Bishop says that the incident did not only disrupt the parish activities, but also instilled fear and anxiety among the population.

Bishop Napeta says that the unauthorized intrusion of the SSPDF into the Church's sacred premises constitutes “a grave violation of its sanctity, neutrality, security, and the rights of our personnel.”

“This action also violates the rights of the villagers to live peacefully in their localities. It is equally against the International Humanitarian Law Article 53 of the 1977 Additional Protocol 1, which prohibits acts of hostility to works of Arts or places of Worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples.”

Bishop Napeta clarifies that “as a Church committed to peace, justice, and service to humanity, we condemn in the strongest terms possible the killing that took place in the Church premises and the denial of decent burial for the dead.”

“The commitment of the Catholic Diocese of Torit to promote justice and peaceful coexistence is well established and known by the entire leadership of the government of South Sudan. The Diocese also disagrees with the orders of the soldiers that no priests or pastoral agents should stay in Loa,” the Catholic Church leader says.

He continues, “This incident is not only an assault on the physical space of the Church but also an affront to the fundamental rights to religious freedom, dignity, and security of the people of the Catholic Diocese of Torit.”

In response, the Local Ordinary of Torit Diocese calls for “an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident. Identification and accountability of the military personnel involved.”

The Catholic Church leader also demands “concrete assurances and clear protocols from the SSPDF to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The immediate release of the body to the relatives for mourning and decent burial.”

He urges the state government of Eastern Equatoria State to “deploy security personnel to protect the property of Loa parish.”

Bishop Napeta also calls for the issuance of a “public apology to the Catholic Diocese of Torit for the attack that occurred.”

“The Diocese of Torit expects our armed forces, who have the mandate to protect civilians and their properties in the country, to uphold the principles of professionalism, justice, human rights, and respect for religious institutions and act upon this matter without delay,” he emphasizes.

Bishop Napeta further says his Episcopal See “stands in solidarity with our Church personnel and the population of Loa Parish (Magwi County) who have been affected by this unfortunate event, and we reiterate our unwavering commitment to continue our ministry of service, peace, and compassion amidst these challenges.”

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Since the signing of the R-ARCSS in Addis Ababa, peace in South Sudan has been fragile. Despite the agreement, tensions between SSPDF and SPLA-IO have reportedly persisted, fuelled by political rivalries, politics of succession, ethnic divisions, and delays in the full implementation of the peace deal. 

The situation worsened in early 2025, when renewed clashes erupted between the two factions, leading to widespread displacement and casualties.

The reported arrest of the first Vice President, Dr. Machar, which followed the arrest of other leaders in the opposition escalated tensions in the world’s youngest nation, raising fears of a return to large-scale conflict.