{"id":58186,"date":"2026-04-07T05:52:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:52:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/churches-and-politicians-in-south-sudan-call-for-lasting-peace-in-easter-messages\/07\/04\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T05:52:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:52:49","slug":"churches-and-politicians-in-south-sudan-call-for-lasting-peace-in-easter-messages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/churches-and-politicians-in-south-sudan-call-for-lasting-peace-in-easter-messages\/07\/04\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Churches and politicians in South Sudan call for ‘lasting peace’ in Easter messages"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Church leaders and politicians in South Sudan have used their Easter messages to call for “lasting peace” and an end to the sporadic killings and conflict rife in the country.<\/p>\n

Delivered to worshippers at churches of different Christian denominations across the nation, some blamed the nationwide violence on the country’s leadership.<\/p>\n

The UN has repeatedly warned that South Sudan is at risk of sliding back into a full-scale civil war.<\/p>\n

Last week, 74 mine workers were killed by gunmen<\/a> in Jebel-Iraq, south-west of the capital, Juba. The government and opposition officials have traded accusations over who was responsible.<\/p>\n

Santo Loku Pio, the principal celebrant at St Theresa’s Cathedral, Juba, said: “Christians don’t practise hatred, they don’t practise violence that leads to death of someone or somebody, and many other things that destroy life.<\/p>\n

“If you are told to go and kill, refuse, even if it means losing your job,” he said, telling people to “be a man or woman of peace”.<\/p>\n

“This is what Easter is all about,” he added.<\/p>\n

Directing part of his message to South Sudan’s leaders, Pio, who is also Auxillary Bishop of Juba, asked that they let their mindset and actions be changed.<\/p>\n

“Be good leaders – good governors, good commissioners, good ministers and good servants of the society. It is time for us to rise above violence, let us do the right thing and I think peace will reign.”<\/p>\n

An Easter message from President Salva Kiir similarly called for “peace, reconciliation and unity”.<\/p>\n

Delivered on his behalf by his press secretary at the St Theresa Cathedral, he told people that Easter was a time to remember that “even in our darkest moments, hope is never lost”.<\/p>\n

“Let us forgive one another, and support one another, and work hand in hand, and build a country that reflects the strength and dignity of its people.”<\/p>\n

The Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Anglican Primate, Justin Badi Arama, told worshippers at Juba’s All Saints Cathedral to “persevere and work for lasting peace”.<\/p>\n

“We need urgent action to end violence in South Sudan and restore human dignity across our nation,” he said.<\/p>\n

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