South Sudan's Catholic Bishops Highlight Milestones and Urge Action on Peace and Elections
South Sudan's Catholic Bishops Highlight Milestones and Urge Action on Peace and Elections
By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
In a meeting marked by deep reflection and hope convened by Catholic bishops of South Sudan in Juba from 27th – 29th June 2024, for the Ecclesiastical Province Sudan and South Sudan under the theme “One Body, One Spirit in Christ”, the bishops highlighted two significant milestones for the Catholic Church this year; the ongoing Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee of the erection of the hierarchy in Sudan.
“This year the Catholic Church celebrates two important and joyful milestones. One is the ongoing Eucharistic Congress, reminding us of the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives that we are truly "One Body, One Spirit in Christ". The other is the Golden Jubilee of the erection of the hierarchy in Sudan when in December 1974 the former mission territories became a local Church in its own right”.
In their pastoral letter signed by H.E. Stephen Cardinal Ameyu Martin Mulla, Archbishop of Juba, H.L. Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, the bishop of Tombura-Yambio, H.L. Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwok, the bishop of Malakal Diocese, H.L. Mathew Remijio Adam, MCCJ, bishop of Wau Diocese, H.L. Christian Carlassare, MCCJ, bishop of Rumbek Diocese, H.L. Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo, the bishop of Yei Diocese, H.L. Emmanuel Bernadino Lowi Napeta, the bishop of Torit Diocese, and H.L. Santo Loku Pio, Auxiliary bishop of juba and was released on 29th June, 2024, the bishops reflecting the ongoing challenges in South Sudan recalled Pope Francis’s Ecumenical Peace Pilgrimage from February 3rd – 5th 2023, where he urged Church leaders to promote peace and justice through their teaching and actions.
In this regard the bishops reaffirmed their commitment to these values, emphasizing their excellent relations with ecumenical and interfaith partners. “As the Catholic Church, we enjoy excellent relations with our ecumenical partners in the South Sudan Council of Churches and our Muslim sisters and brothers. Ecumenical and inter-faith cooperation has contributed greatly to peacebuilding in our nation, and we pledge to continue this, as the Holy Father has called us in both his words and his actions”.
They also noted that despite the absence of large-scale conflict between major armed groups, sub-national violence continues to plague the country, “South Sudan is not truly at peace. While there is no serious fighting between major armed groups, sub-national violence is taking place in many parts of the country. This is often portrayed as simply "local", "ethnic", "tribal", or "community violence, but in fact, it is inextricably linked to national political dynamics”.
They also pointed out that “The Church has also suffered from violence, with the death of Fr Luke Yugue and his driver Mr Michael Gbeko being just the most recent amongst many others including Sr Veronika Rackova, Sr Mary Daniel Abud and Sr Regina Roba. While we are willing to forgive individuals, we condemn their actions and the impunity they enjoy, and we urge the government to fulfil its responsibility to protect all the citizens of South Sudan”.
They criticized the ongoing power struggles within the Transitional Government of National Unity, which has resulted in a lack of cooperation and trust among political factions, all vying for their interests rather than the nation’s well-being.
“While South Sudan has a power-sharing Transitional Government of National Unity, in practice there is an ongoing power struggle between the different political factions, and there is little real cooperation and trust between them. All are working for their vested interests rather than the good of the nation the ordinary people”.
The bishops further expressed disappointment with the government's lack of preparation for free and fair elections, emphasizing that elections are a process, not a single event.
“Elections are part of this power struggle. Like all South Sudanese, we look forward with hope to the day when free and fair elections can be held in our country, but we are disappointed by the government's lack of preparation. An election is not a single event, it is a whole process spread over time”.
They highlighted the numerous logistical and security challenges, as well as the need for an independent electoral commission, voter registration, and civic education. The bishops stressed that the upcoming elections is part of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), must follow the fulfillment of other crucial components of the agreement, including constitutional reforms, security sector reform, and transitional justice.
“An election is not a single event; it is a whole process spread over time. This involves many elements, including establishment of an independent electoral commission; demarcation of constituencies; registration of voters, political parties and candidates; training of electoral officers; civic education; the logistics of voting in our vast land which has poor infrastructure and communications; security; and a peaceful environment conducive to voting. Virtually none of this has taken place”.
They continued, “It is also difficult to see how all parts of the country will be able to vote freely given the insecurity, and other challenges such as the widespread flooding. In addition, this is not just an ordinary routine election. This election is part of the R-ARCSS, a peace agreement signed by most of the parties to the 2013 civil war. In fact, the election forms the final step of the agreement, the culmination which takes place only after all the other parts of the R-ARCSS have been fulfilled and which officially ends the mandate of the R-ARCSS. These include the permanent constitution, security sector reform, transitional justice, reconciliation, and other elements. Most of these have not been fulfilled, thus it is difficult to see how the final element can legitimately be implemented without implementing all the others”.
Additionally, the bishops supported the Tumaini Initiative, hosted in Kenya by President Ruto which aimed at finding a political exit strategy by bringing together both signatories and non-signatories of the R-ARCSS urging all parties to prioritize the nation’s well – being over individual power struggles and called for continued dialogue, non-violence, and international support for the process.
“Some parties want elections to take place while others are reluctant. One attempt to find an exit strategy from this political impasse is the Tumaini Initiative hosted in Kenya by President William Ruto, an extension of the Catholic Rome-based initiative spearheaded by Sant'Egidio, which brings together both signatories and non-signatories of the R-ARCSS to seek a way forward, although some significant parties have declined to participate. We urge all parties to put aside their differences and to work together for the good of the people. We therefore support the aims of the Tumaini. Any solution must be based not on sharing power between elites but on constitutionality, good governance and the rule of law”.
In their collective pastoral letter, the prelates highlighted the nation dire economic situation, marked by rising prices, unpaid salaries, and extreme hardships for the population urging the government to address the economic crisis to prevent instability, drawing parallels to recent violence in Kenya due to economic protests.
“At the same time, we cannot ignore the dire economic situation of the country and the suffering it is causing for our people. Prices continue to rise, and inflation is one of the highest in the world. Salaries are often not paid. People cannot afford to buy basic necessities and are facing extreme hardships. As we have seen in many other countries, this can lead to protests, instability, insecurity, disorder and violence. We urge the government of South Sudan to address this economic crisis. We are conscious of the recent violence during protests over the economic situation in our neighbour Kenya”.
Addressing the conflict in Sudan, the bishops expressed deep concern for their neighbor, Sudan, where violence and societal fragmentation have reached alarming levels, “While our primary responsibility is South Sudan, nevertheless we cannot distance ourselves from our neighbour Sudan. The fabric of Sudanese society has been torn apart, with people shocked, traumatized and disbelieving about the level of violence and hatred”.
The conflict, far more complex than a mere power struggle between two generals, involves the military’s deep entanglement in the country’s economic life and the exploitation of the situation by wealthy elites.
Quoting bishop Tombe Trille of El Obeid, the bishops echaoed his call for peace and dialogue, urging Sudanese leaders to prioritize the nation’s well – being and engage in meaningful negotiations.
“Our brother Bishop Tombe Trille in El Obeid says: "So far there is not even a clue to the light of peace dialogue that can bring hope for the Sudanese. I believe that our leaders are not ready for peace. Fighting and conflict have the upper hand as we hear them say 'unless we defeat the other group, we won't put down weapons”.
They added, “Time has come for them to think of the people and nation. The more the fighting, the more people get scattered and the more hatred. grows among various Sudanese ethnic groups. Kneel down to pray, and hear the voice of God and the voice of the people, the children, the women that cry for peace, and also the blood that cries on the ground of very innocent people who died because of crossfire. Go back to dialogue as children of one mother and one father." We endorse his words and call for unity - "One Body, One Spirit in Christ".
In conclusion, the bishops expressed gratitude to the international community and Caritas Internationalis for their humanitarian support to Sudan and South Sudan. They urged the global community not to overlook the extreme needs of these nations, despite competing crises worldwide.
The bishops called on the people of South Sudan to embrace unity as "One Body, One Spirit in Christ" and urged all people of goodwill to join them in prayer, hope, and active pursuit of justice and peace.
