Catholic Church Leaders in African Countries Scarred by War Unite in Call for Peace

Catholic bishops from South Sudan and Sierra Leone appealed for peace and healing across conflict-torn African nations on the International Day of Peace.

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, who leads the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio and chairs the Justice and Peace Commission of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the Church stands in solidarity with nations seeking peace. Speaking to ACI Africa on September 21, Bishop Hiiboro noted that his people have endured displacement, grief, and fear. He described peace as more than just the absence of war, stating it requires justice, dignity, security, reconciliation, and the courage to rebuild trust.

Bishop Hiiboro urged political, religious, and traditional leaders, as well as women and young people, to move past painful histories. He said that while people have carried wounds for a long time, peace is the legacy that must be left to future generations.