“Let’s not get used to war”, Bishop in South Sudan Pleads in Easter Message, Cautions against “logic of weapons”

The South Sudanese member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) lamented, “How much suffering we see in the eyes of the children! The children in those war zones have forgotten how to smile with their eyes.”

South Sudan is experiencing renewed conflict between the South Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), following the arrest of political leaders, including First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

In fact, since the signing of the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in Addis Ababa, peace in South Sudan has been fragile. Despite the agreement, tensions between SSPDF and SPLA-IO have reportedly persisted, fuelled by political rivalries, politics of succession, ethnic divisions, and delays in the full implementation of the peace deal. 

The situation worsened in early 2025, when renewed clashes erupted between the two factions, leading to widespread displacement and casualties.

The reported arrest of the first Vice President, Dr. Machar, which followed the arrest of other leaders in the opposition, escalated tensions in the world’s youngest nation, raising fears of a return to large-scale conflict.

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In his Easter 2025 Message published in a Good Friday,  April 18 video recording, the Apostolic Nuncio in South Sudan, Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, painted a grim picture of the people of God in the country, reeling from the effects of the escalating political tensions, and appealed to Christian politicians “to silence the weapons this Easter” and get the people “out of the grave”.

“In this moment of joy, alas, we cannot but recall our brothers and sisters here in South Sudan, for whom Easter's Alleluia will be muted,” Archbishop Horgan lamented, and called upon “all Christians, especially those exercising authority and leadership at every level, to silence the weapons this Easter.”

“Allow this beloved people to come out of the grave, to rise from the tomb, and to leave violence behind,” the pioneer resident Apostolic Nuncio in South Sudan appealed. 

In his 2025 Easter Message, Bishop Remijio called on South Sudanese authorities “not to allow the current hostilities” to continue causing harm to civilians, especially children and vulnerable adults. 

“May a new dawn of hope soon appear,” he said, adding, “Let there be a decision for peace.”

He reiterated, “I implore our political leaders to give a chance to peace and dialogue for the sake of sustainable peace and development of South Sudan.”

Focusing on East, the Local Ordinary of Wau Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in January 2021 calls upon the people of God in South Sudan to let the peace of the risen Lord take root in their hearts, homes, and institutions.

“My dear people of God, let us allow the peace of Christ to enter our lives, our families, our places of work. Let the peace of Christ enter and remain in our country,” he said. 

Bishop Remijio added, “Today, more than ever, we need Him to stand in the midst of the sons and daughters of South Sudan and repeat to us: ‘Peace be with you.’”

“We need the risen Lord so that we can believe in the victory of love and hope for reconciliation,” he emphasized, and continued, “Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace from our windows and in our streets.”

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“Let us remember the infinite love of God for each one of us – a love that overcomes every limit and every weakness,” he said.

He prayed that the spirit of the risen Christ helps the people of God in South Sudan to draw inspiration from Jesus Christ, the “way that leads to life, the way of peace, the way of reconciliation and fraternity.”

“May the light of the Resurrection illuminate our minds and convert our hearts. And may it make us aware of the value of every human life, which must be welcomed, protected, and loved,” Bishop Remijio said in his 2025 Easter message.