South Sudan: Churches appeal for calm after major outbreak of violence

Mass for peace, Juba 2014

Church leaders in South Sudan have appealed for calm after the country was rocked by a sudden outbreak of violence, which has killed more than 300 people, and forced thousands to flee the fighting. Clashes began on Thursday between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers who support the vice-president, Riek Machar. After a lull on Saturday, when the country was to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its independence from Sudan, fighting flared again yesterday (Sunday) and today, raising fears of a return to all-out civil war.

Radio Myraya reported that about a thousand people are under the shelter of a Catholic church in the capital. Many more are hiding in their homes.

Members of the United Nations Security Council expressed shock and outrage at the attacks on UN compounds and civilians sites in Juba.

"The members of the Security Council reminded all parties, including government security forces, of the civilian character of the protection of civilian sites in South Sudan. The members of the Security Council stressed that attacks against civilians and UN premises and personnel may constitute war crimes" the Security Council said in a statement.

The Japanese consulate confirmed that one Chinese peacekeeper was killed and several Rwandan peacekeepers were injured in the attack.

In a statement issued on Sunday, leaders of the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) condemned the latest upsurge of violence. They said: "We, the leaders of the Church in South Sudan, are extremely disturbed about the fatal shootings which occurred in Juba on the evenings of 7th and 8th July 2016 and the morning of 10th July. We make no judgement as to how or why they occurred, nor who is to blame, but we note with concern that there have been a number of incidents recently, and that tension is increasing..

"We condemn all acts of violence without exception. The time for carrying and using weapons has ended; now is the time to build a peaceful nation," they said.

The statement urged repentance and a firm commitment from all armed individuals, forces and communities, and from their leaders, to create an atmosphere where violence is not an option.

"We are encouraged by the statements from both President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar calling for calm. We add our voices to theirs, and urge soldiers and civilians to refrain from provocative words and actions, and to do everything in their power to avoid escalating the situation."

The leaders lamented that the killings "are not confined to Juba", adding that Wau has been another violent spot in the country.

The concluded: "...we cannot forget the recent killing of our missionary Sister Dr Veronika in Yei only two months ago, as well as many other cases which are so common that they pass almost unnoticed."