Seasonal Call Resounds
On Christmas Eve in Juba, Archbishop Justin Badi Arama stood before microphones and delivered a sober message. The chair of the South Sudan Council of Churches urged national leaders to silence guns and let citizens celebrate in safety.
Eroding Public Trust
He acknowledged that repeated delays in executing the 2018 peace deal have bruised confidence. “People struggle for daily bread while violence persists,” he said, warning that the social contract weakens each time promises slip.
The archbishop reminded believers that Christmas signals hope beyond politics, yet stressed that hope needs credible action from what he termed “the few elites” guiding national decisions.
Demanding Release of Political Detainees
Calling prison bars “a barrier to reconciliation,” Badi appealed for the immediate and unconditional liberation of individuals held on political grounds, including defendants presently before courts in Juba.
He argued that setting detainees free would “open a new page” for nationwide dialogue and signal sincerity to armed holdout groups monitoring events closely.
Push for Genuine Dialogue
The Council’s statement insists that negotiation, anchored in mutual forgiveness, remains the only viable route to lasting stability. It invites rival leaders to sit together without preconditions and craft a security roadmap fit for elections.
Observers note that faith institutions have historically brokered breakthroughs in South Sudan, from humanitarian corridors in 1994 to local ceasefires in 2016, lending weight to the present appeal.
Humanitarian Support Still Vital
Beyond politics, the Church requested sustained regional and global assistance for families displaced by conflict and unprecedented floods. Aid agencies estimate two thirds of the population will require support through the next lean season.
As candles are lit across parishes this Christmas, clergy hope their message reaches cabinet rooms as clearly as it echoes in church halls, turning seasonal goodwill into policy decisions that safeguard ordinary lives.