South Sudan’s bishops plead for end to civil war
September 30, 2014
South Sudan’s bishops have issued a statement pleading for an end to the nation’s civil war, which began in December, has left thousands dead, and has displaced an estimated one million people.
The bishops “solemnly declare that the current war in South Sudan is evil, as we have said in previous messages,” they said in a September 25 statement. “There is no moral justification for any further killing. We can accept neither excuses nor conditions from any party or individual for the continuation of the war. The fighting and killing must stop immediately and unconditionally.”
“Aware of the negative impact of war, we call attention to the rise in tribalism as a result of the conflict,” they continued. “Traditionally, the peoples of South Sudan do not hate each other … However ethnicity has now become a negative issue throughout our society. Large-scale ethnic killing has created a cycle of fear, hatred and revenge.”
“We call on every political leader, every military officer, every individual soldier, every armed civilian, whether government or opposition, to avoid any further killing,” they added. “It is immoral and evil.”
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