By Paschal Norbert
JUBA, MARCH 27, 2025 (CISA) – Religious leaders have urged President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar to engage in direct dialogue and embrace peace for the greater good of the nation. The call for unity and reconciliation was made during a high-level meeting on March 26, 2025, at the President’s Office between President Kiir and senior church leaders, including Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba and President of the Sudan/South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and The Most Rev Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, and Bishop of the Juba Diocese
In a statement by the President’s office, during the meeting, the church leaders emphasized the urgent need for both the government and opposition forces to prioritize peace. Archbishop Badi reiterated that the Church would continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure sustainable peace and long-term stability in South Sudan. The clerics also appealed to armed groups to lay down their weapons and embrace dialogue to prevent further conflict and instability in the country.
In a strong show of unity and commitment, President Kiir and the religious leaders joined in prayer, seeking divine guidance for peace, calmness, and national reconciliation as South Sudanese work together to rebuild their nation. The President assured the church leaders of his unwavering dedication to ensuring that the country never returns to war, emphasizing that stability and unity remain his administration’s top priorities.
President Kiir Receives Message of Peace from Pope Francis
The meeting between President Kiir and the church leaders followed his recent reception of a letter from Pope Francis, in which the Pontiff urged South Sudan’s political leadership to pursue peace, reconciliation, and development. The message, delivered by Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Séamus Horgan, on March 14, 2025, reiterated the Pope’s persistent appeals for dialogue and unity among the country’s leaders.
In his letter, Pope Francis reminded South Sudanese authorities of their moral and political responsibility to guide the country toward peace, stressing the importance of fully implementing the Revitalized Peace Agreement. The Pope’s appeal aligns with his continuous advocacy for national unity, a call he had previously made during his visit to South Sudan in February 2023.
President Kiir assured the Holy See of his government’s commitment to peace, stating that the situation in the country remains under control. His reassurances reflect ongoing efforts to maintain stability following the 2018 peace deal, which sought to end years of conflict in South Sudan.
Background: South Sudan’s Political Instability
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has been grappling with political instability and conflict since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. A civil war erupted in 2013 following a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his then-Vice President Riek Machar, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
The warring factions signed a peace agreement in 2018, which led to the formation of a unity government in 2020. However, tensions have persisted, with sporadic outbreaks of violence and delays in implementing key provisions of the peace deal. The country now faces challenges such as intercommunal conflicts, economic hardship, and a fragile political landscape.
Tensions between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar have also escalated in recent months, raising concerns over renewed conflict. The First Vice President has reportedly been placed under house arrest, further exacerbating political tensions and fears that the country could spiral into a wider conflict.
