Catholic bishops in South Sudan have issued a strong condemnation of recent violence in Jonglei State after reports emerged of a massacre that claimed the lives of dozens of civilians. Church leaders described the killings as a grave violation of human dignity and called on political authorities to take urgent action to restore security and justice.
Members of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference expressed deep sorrow and outrage following reports that at least 169 people were killed in what humanitarian observers have described as politically motivated intercommunal violence. The attacks reportedly targeted communities in Ayod County of Jonglei State and Abiemnhom County in the Ruweng Administrative Area.
In a statement released by the bishops, Church leaders emphasized that the killing of innocent civilians can never be justified under any circumstances. They described the violence as an offense against the sacred value of human life and a serious moral failure that damages both society and the moral conscience of the nation.
According to information from local Church sources, the number of casualties may increase as some victims remain critically injured. The attacks have also triggered a wave of displacement as frightened residents flee their homes in search of safety. Many families from affected communities have reportedly been evacuated to the nearby town of Abyei.
The bishops expressed solidarity with communities that have been devastated by the violence, noting that families in the affected regions are once again facing mourning, displacement and fear. They warned that repeated outbreaks of violence threaten to destabilize already fragile communities and deepen humanitarian suffering.
Church leaders also criticized the growing culture of revenge that has fueled cycles of retaliatory attacks in some regions of the country. According to the bishops, long standing grievances, collective blame and anger between communities have contributed to an environment where violence is often seen as a response to past injustice.
The statement stressed that retaliation cannot bring justice or healing. Instead, cycles of revenge continue to destroy families, weaken social bonds and deprive younger generations of the opportunity to grow up in stable and peaceful communities.
The bishops urged citizens and community leaders to reject attitudes that normalize violence and collective punishment. They emphasized that dignity, reconciliation and respect for human life must guide the future of the nation if lasting peace is to be achieved.
The Church leaders also directed an urgent appeal to South Sudan’s transitional authorities, reminding government officials that their primary responsibility is the protection of life and the promotion of the common good.
They called on national and regional leaders to act quickly and decisively in response to the attacks, urging authorities to ensure security for vulnerable communities and to prevent further outbreaks of violence.
In particular, the bishops demanded a thorough and independent investigation into the killings in both Ayod and Abiemnhom. They stressed that identifying and prosecuting those responsible is essential if justice is to be served and if public trust in the rule of law is to be restored.
