Armed combatants raise their firearms. (Photo: Courtesy)

Church leaders in South Sudan have renewed calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, warning that continued fighting is pushing the country back toward war.

The call comes amid escalating violence in parts of Jonglei, Eastern, and Central Equatoria states, as well as growing insecurity in other areas.

Speaking to Eye Radio, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yei, Alex Lodiong Sakor, said the renewed military confrontations between government forces and opposition armed groups are worrying and contradict the spirit of the peace agreement.

“Violence will not resolve political grievances and only causes suffering to civilians, including women and children,” Bishop Lodiong said.

“So we want that ceasefire to be adhered to and then from there, let people sit down to talk. These few months remaining for the election should be months of negotiation and talking, clearing up the dust, so that generally when we reach December, everything will come. Then we go for elections. So, ceasefire. That’s number one. Number two, let people have the leadership, you know, the opposition leadership, the government leadership, civil leadership, all of us, even church leaders. Concern for human life is very important.”

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s Central Internal Province, Bishop Paul Yugusuk, described the recent violence as a serious setback to the peace process.

“We call for, one, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. This is really very important, both the government as well as the opposition,” Bishop Yugusuk said.

“Two, we also call for the protection of civilians according to international humanitarian laws. We have seen in this conflict, we have lost a lot of civilians. And so, issues of protection become very, very important. Thirdly, as a faith-based institution, the resumption of inclusive political dialogue is very important. We want to go back for the dialogue, and that’s the only means, the only way for us to achieve peace and stability in our country.”

Both church leaders reaffirmed the role of the church in promoting reconciliation and dialogue and urged national, regional, and international actors to support peace efforts. They appealed to all South Sudanese, particularly political and military leaders, to recommit to peace, respect human life, and prevent the country from sliding back into full-scale war.