Catholic Bishops Urge Sudanese to Learn “how to survive together”, to Reject Violence and Work for Peace

The Bishops further appeal to the warring Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as their supporters from both sides to respect humanitarian law and desist from blocking humanitarian corridors for lifesaving assistance.

The Catholic Bishops also express concern about the continuous socio-political and economic crisis in neighboring South Sudan, a situation they say has created humanitarian stress, especially with the civil servants and armed forces who they say have not been paid their salaries for almost a year.

“With the recurrent postponements of democratic elections in South Sudan, the hope for sustainable peace is waning out. The catastrophic floods have submerged villages adding to the existing human-induced sufferings,” the Catholic Church leader lament.

They continue, “The local communities are still killing each other and being targeted by the armed groups around the country. Recent examples are the massacres that took place in Wonduruba, killings in Kajo Keji, and continued fighting between armed youth and South Sudan Peoples' Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Nasir County.”

They call upon the “government and the arms groups to respect life and protect civilians and their properties.”

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SSS-CBC members further exhort the Government of South Sudan, and the opposition groups to “speed up the implementation of the milestones of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the speedy conclusion of the expected 2024 Tumaini Consensus without further delays.”

“We desire to see South Sudan transiting quickly from politicians-based power-sharing agreements to people-centered constitution promulgation, multiparty dialogue, and elections of government leaders,” they add.

The Catholic Bishops plead with the international partners to continue supporting South Sudan to exit from what they describe as “humanitarian traps” into a nation that values stability for prosperity.

The SSS-CBC members also make a “heartfelt appeal” to the neighboring countries to respect the territorial integrity of South Sudan.

They urge the government of South Sudan to remain steadfast in safeguarding the borders, as any compromise on territorial encroachment could lead to conflicts with the local communities, with far-reaching implications of regional stability.

The Catholic Bishops “strongly encourage all believers in God and people of goodwill to integrate their faith into their daily work and to be faithful witnesses of God's truth and love to all humanity.”

“Let us not lose heart in our efforts for peace, reconciliation, and healing, which are embodied in the theme of our Eucharistic Congress “One Body, One Spirit in Christ”,” SSS-CBC members say.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.