“Silence is no longer an option”: South Sudan Church Leaders Call for Halt to Hostilities, Civilian Protection

Church leaders in South Sudan called for an immediate end to hostilities and urgent measures to protect civilians in a statement issued Monday, October 5. Members of the South Sudan Council of Churches, including representatives from the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference, said the country's worsening insecurity, killings, abductions, and displacement have made silence an impossible option.

The leaders urged the government, traditional authorities, armed groups, and local communities to stop violence and revenge attacks. They specifically requested that parties secure roads and river transport corridors to ensure humanitarian workers can reach affected populations without hindrance.

To address the ongoing conflict, the council asked parties to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation instead of retaliation. The statement noted that South Sudanese people deserve to live without the fear of being killed on roads, abducted, or displaced by fighting between armed forces and armed youth. This follows reports of renewed fighting between government forces and opposition groups, as well as intercommunal violence, throughout 2026.