Juba, South Sudan\u2014In a poignant and urgent appeal, the Catholic bishops of South Sudan have raised a prophetic voice, warning of the escalating risk of genocide as the nation teeters on the brink of a full-scale return to civil war. Their impassioned plea for peace and dialogue comes amidst rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions, painting a grim picture of a country struggling to emerge from the shadows of past conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba, president of the Sudan and South Sudan bishops\u2019 conference, articulated the gravity of the situation in a statement issued on January 27, 2026. He highlighted the renewed fighting between government forces (SSPDF) and various armed opposition groups (SPLA-IO and others) in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states, emphasizing the rapid deterioration of both security and humanitarian conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Nation in Peril: Escalating Violence and Displacement<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scale of the crisis is staggering. According to recent reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), an estimated 260,000 people have been displaced across Jonglei State alone following renewed fighting and airstrikes that began in late December 2025. Between December 1 and January 23, the violence has reportedly claimed at least 200 lives, including no less than 40 civilians, in Jonglei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following table summarizes the critical humanitarian data for South Sudan as of early 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Call for Dialogue and Respect for Human Dignity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cardinal Mulla implored all leaders, both within the Unity Government and among non-signatories to the Revitalised Peace Agreement, to \u201cstop war and embrace dialogue, listen to one another and to the people you claim to fight for their sake\u201d. His words underscore the Church\u2019s consistent teaching on the paramount importance of dialogue and reconciliation as pathways to lasting peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe citizens are not properties, they are human beings and it will be good to know their pains, hunger for peace, and their desire to live in freedom,\u201d Cardinal Mulla asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This powerful statement serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dignity of every human person, a cornerstone of Catholic social teaching. It challenges leaders to prioritize the welfare and aspirations of their people over political interests or military ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Echoes of Pope Francis: \u201cNo More War\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cardinal\u2019s appeal resonates deeply with the fervent pleas of Pope Francis, who has consistently championed peace in South Sudan. Cardinal Mulla explicitly quoted the Holy Father\u2019s message to the people of South Sudan, where the Pontiff famously called for \u201cno more war\u201d and \u201cno more bloodshed.\u201d Reaffirming this papal sentiment, the Cardinal declared, \u201cWe are coming again with urgency to reiterate our appeal for dialogue, unity, peace and reconciliation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Sudan, the world\u2019s youngest nation, gained independence in 2011 but plunged into a brutal civil war in 2013, claiming nearly 400,000 lives and displacing millions. The 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in Addis Ababa, offered a glimmer of hope by ending countrywide fighting and establishing a transitional government. Pope Francis played a pivotal role in these peace efforts, famously kneeling to kiss the feet of South Sudan\u2019s political leaders in 2019, a profound gesture of humility and a desperate plea for peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disregard for Peace and the Specter of Genocide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these efforts, many commitments of the 2018 pact, including general elections and security reforms, remain unimplemented. The Catholic bishops are now deeply concerned that the agreement is being disregarded and dialogue sidelined. Cardinal Mulla expressed alarm at the \u201ctotal disregard for the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement\u201d and the \u201cgrowing discord within the Unity Government\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He warned that the \u201cattacks and counter attacks between the warring parties in many parts of the country is spreading rapidly causing displacements, hunger, and many other inhuman conditions\u201d. A particularly chilling concern for the bishops is the proliferation of hate speech and disinformation. Cardinal Mulla specifically cited a top general from the government army who called for indiscriminate violence against civilians in Jonglei state, unequivocally stating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDirecting forces to \u2018spare no lives\u2019 is a direct call to genocide. We call on all the fighting forces not to heed to any directive that risks victimizing innocent civilians and pitting communities against each other\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This direct accusation of a call to genocide, corroborated by Human Rights Watch reports of commanders promoting attacks on civilians, underscores the extreme peril facing the nation and the moral courage of the bishops in speaking truth to power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Church\u2019s Unwavering Commitment to Peace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Father John Gbemboyo Joseph Mbikoyezu, the pastoral and social communication coordinator for the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic bishops\u2019 conference, noted that the recent escalation is leading to full-scale war with a \u201ctotal disregard of dialogue\u201d. He lamented that \u201cthe warring parties are mobilizing their affiliates to defend what they believe as theirs. They are mobilising resources for war, in disregard of the economic challenges facing the country\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The churches, including the Catholic Church, have also rejected a proposed government amendment to the revitalised peace agreement, warning that any premature or unilateral pursuit would undermine its spirit and gains. Rev. Tut Kony Nyang, general secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches, emphasized that \u201cpeace and stability cannot be built through selective implementation or actions taken outside the collective will of the signatories\u201d. He urged all parties to prioritize the welfare of the people above political interests, recognizing that \u201cthe prolonged suffering of citizens demands leadership committed to peace, stability and accountability\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Spiritual Resolution: Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In these dire times, the Catholic Church calls all faithful to fervent prayer and action for peace in South Sudan. Our spiritual response must be rooted in:<\/p>\n\n\n\nMetric<\/td> Data (January 2026)<\/td> Source<\/td><\/tr><\/thead> People in Need of Aid<\/td> 10 Million<\/td> OCHA \/ IRC<\/td><\/tr> Displaced in Jonglei<\/td> 260,000<\/td> OCHA Flash Update<\/td><\/tr> Recent Fatalities (Jonglei)<\/td> 200+<\/td> ACLED<\/td><\/tr> Emergency Funding Allocated<\/td> $10 Million<\/td> CERF<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n \n