JUBA DECEMBER 16, 2014(CISA) – On December 15, the Catholic Church in South Sudan held prayers for the victims of the civil war at the Cathedral in Juba, one year after the outbreak of the civil war in the country.
While presiding over the event, Archbishop Paolina Lukudu Loro of the Archdiocese of Juba called for peace and stability.
According to UN figures, there are 1.4 million displaced people within the country, and another half a million taking refuge in neighbouring countries. More than 97,000 people remain in compounds of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in very difficult conditions.
The crisis in South Sudan exploded exactly a year ago. The first clashes between military units, loyal to President Salva Kiir and former Vice President, Riek Machar began on December 15 2013 in Juba.
The dispute extended to other areas of the Country, assuming an ethnic characterization, involving the two main ethnic groups of the Country, the Dinka and the Nuer.
United Nations Security Council has urgently demanded that President Salva Kiir, former Vice-President Riek Machar and all parties refrain from further violence, implement the Agreement to Resolve the Crisis in South Sudan signed on May 9, 2014 by South Sudan and the SPLM/A (in Opposition)
The council has further urged the warring groups to engage fully and inclusively in ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa, uphold their commitment to establish a Transitional Government of National Unity, and allow and facilitate.
