Members of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSSCBC) have strongly condemned what some UN agencies have described as yet another massacre of innocent civilians in South Sudan’s Jonglei State
Paul Samasumo – Vatican City
“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, these heinous and senseless killings. There can be no justification whatsoever for the murder of innocent civilians. Such acts are an offence against God, the Author of Life, and a grave sin against humanity. We stand in unwavering solidarity with our suffering people in Ayod and Abiemnhom, who have once again been plunged into mourning, fear, and displacement,” the Bishops said.
According Church sources in the region, at least 169 people were killed in what has been described as “intercommunal violence that is politically motivated.” The number of those who have died is expected to rise among those with serious injuries. Vatican News has learned that most of the people in Abiemnhom have been evacuated to the town of Abyei.
Revenge is not justice
The Bishops’ Statement released to the media on Tuesday, 4 March, is signed by all members of the Bishops’ Conference. The prelates say they are profoundly appalled and saddened by the deeply alarming and “persistent cruelty of violence.”
“We have received distressing reports of the brutal targeting and killing of innocent civilians in Ayod County of Jonglei State and Abiemnhom County in the Ruweng Administrative Area. These acts represent not only a tragic loss of life but a fresh descent into the abyss of human depravity, where the sanctity of life, a sacred gift from God, is trampled upon with alarming impunity.”
The Bishops add, “The culture of deadly revenge has taken deep root in parts of our society. Cycles of retaliation, fuelled by anger, collective blame, and historical grievances, continue to destroy families, weaken communities, and rob our children of their future. Revenge is not justice. Collective punishment is not strength. Blood for blood is not dignity. This mentality must end,” affirm the Bishops.
Appeal to South Sudan’s leaders
The violence comes amid growing political instability in South Sudan. Clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) in parts of Jonglei have sadly become frequent.
“To the transitional governments at all levels, we address a fervent and urgent appeal: You are the custodians of the common good, entrusted with the sacred duty to protect life. We call upon you to act immediately, decisively, and transparently,” the Bishops’ Statement reads.
In the particular cases of the recent killings in Ayod and Abiemnhom, the Bishops have called for a thorough and independent investigation that should lead to the identification and prosecution of perpetrators.
