Church Leaders in South Sudan Want Peace Restored Ahead of Unity Government Anniversary

Formed on 22 February 2020, the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) brought hope for peace to many in South Sudan.  

Aid groups hoped the agreement would help alleviate a protracted humanitarian crisis that has left millions of people displaced and deprived.

“Reports from aid agencies persistently indicate an increase in the number of people in need of humanitarian aid in the country,” they reveal.

In a joint statement to the press signed by the SSCC Chairman, Bishop Dr. Arkangelo Wani Lemi of the African Inland Church, representatives of the organizations reiterate their appeal to political leaders in South Sudan saying, “It is not the first time we have called on the same leaders to fulfill their responsibility to our country and the citizens of this nation.”

“With this growing unbearable situation of human suffering, we are prompted to echo the people’s call for an end to violent conflicts and insecurity, displacements of civilians and insensitive creation of more orphans and widows,” the representatives say in their collective statement.

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They add, “We now seize this moment to jointly exhort all our representatives; religious leaders, women, youth and civil society leaders across the country to unite, raise their voices and call for what the people desperately need – peace, security and stability.”

The Church and Civil society leaders further say they are worried that the “scale of the economy, security and humanitarian crisis have not moved the leaders to save this country from further disintegration and human suffering.”

“These calls have not yielded any meaningful change to the ongoing crisis in the country and the living conditions of the common citizens,” the leaders say in their February 15 statement.

They add, “In the face of these unprecedented challenges our country and the people are going through, we commit on their behalf to intensify these calls until all leaders listen and deliver peace, justice, liberty and prosperity for all citizens of our country.”