“We all deserve to live in peace, prosperity”: Christian Youths amid Rising Tension in South Sudan

Since the signing of the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (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.

In their five-point statement, members of the SSCC Youth Desk make specific appeals to both the young people and the South Sudanese leaders.

On promoting peace and harmony, the urge youth in all the Churches to “refrain from spreading misinformation and hate speeches on social media. Instead, we must actively foster harmony within our communities.”

Members of the SSCC Youth Desk call upon young people to “distance themselves from the spread of false information that fuels tensions in our Country. Let us use non-violent means to express our rights and concerns.”

They urge national leaders to “prioritize dialogue and set an example for future generations. As the Bible says in Luke 6:36: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

They call upon young people to “uphold the spirit of patriotism and work together for the common goal of the people of South Sudan.”

“The initiatives taken by International, Regional, and Local Communities are recognized and supported by the youth of SSCC,” members of the SSCC Youth Desk affirm and go on to reaffirm their commitment to “peace and harmony in our God-given Country.”

“We choose to be part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem; as the Bible reminds us in Matthew 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God,” SSCC Youth Desk members say in their April 11 statement.