PHOTO CREDITS: South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC)
(MACHAKOS COUNTY, KENYA) – South Sudan’s top church leaders have issued a strong appeal for peace, forgiveness and dialogue, warning that the country’s fragile peace process risks collapsing unless political and community leaders act with urgency.
The appeal followed a high level prayer and peace engagement meeting held from 9 to 13 September 2025 at Lukenya Getaway in Machakos County, Kenya. The gathering was convened under the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), bringing together senior clerics from across denominations.
In their statement, the church leaders noted that South Sudan continues to face serious political and humanitarian challenges. These include repeated delays in implementing the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), ongoing localised violence, worsening economic hardship and a growing loss of public trust. They said these pressures have left the peace process fragile and the population in continued suffering.
The heads of churches emphasised that South Sudan stands at a critical crossroads, where further stagnation of the peace agreement risks undoing years of effort. They called for immediate and genuine dialogue across the country, creating safe spaces for people to speak openly and seek solutions together.
The statement laid out a 10 point way forward, focusing on reconciliation and renewed national dialogue. The leaders pledged to:
| Point | Action Proposed |
|---|---|
| 1 | Assert the church’s spiritual duty to promote peace and reconciliation. |
| 2 | Speak as the conscience of the nation, voicing the suffering of ordinary South Sudanese. |
| 3 | Act as a trusted and neutral bridge between conflicting groups. |
| 4 | Launch a Church Initiative for National Healing and Reconciliation (CINHR). |
| 5 | Urge political leaders to move beyond rhetoric and show real commitment to peace. |
| 6 | Call for general amnesty and forgiveness, including for detainees and those who took up arms. |
| 7 | Use moral and spiritual authority to encourage good faith negotiations. |
| 8 | Advocate against proxy interference and promote a unified regional approach. |
| 9 | Seek regional and international support from organisations such as IGAD, the African Union and the UN for church led reconciliation. |
| 10 | Encourage all South Sudanese allies to engage positively with the church process. |
The church leaders said the suffering of South Sudanese people must not continue unchecked, stressing that their role is not political but moral and spiritual, standing as an independent conscience for the nation.
They also called on the government and opposition leaders to show political will and translate promises into real action that brings tangible change for citizens.
The statement urged forgiveness at national level, including amnesty for those in detention and those who fought against the state, arguing that reconciliation cannot be achieved without acts of mercy and mutual understanding.
The leaders further appealed for international partners to support their initiative, noting that regional bodies such as IGAD, the African Union, and the East African Community, as well as global church organisations, should stand behind the effort.
The signatories included The Most Rev. Dr Justin Badi Arama, Chair of the SSCC and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan; His Eminence Dr Stephen Ameyu Martin Cardinal Mulla, Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba and senior leaders from Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Orthodox and Reformed churches, among others.
The South Sudan Council of Churches has played a central role in peace efforts for many years, often mediating between political actors and communities. The council stressed that the latest initiative is part of its mission to accompany the nation in seeking reconciliation, justice, and healing.
The church leaders closed their message with a biblical reminder from the Book of Isaiah:
“Let us dialogue and live in peace.”
SSCC-Statement-12th-September-2025
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