Church leaders call for calm in Juba

July 10, 2016 (JUBA) – Leaders of the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) have called on the top leadership in the country to restrain their forces and stop fighting from escalating further.

“We, the leaders of the Church in South Sudan, are extremely disturbed about the fatal shootings which occurred in Juba on the evenings of 7th and 8th July 2016 and the morning of 10th July. We make no judgement as to how or why they occurred, nor who is to blame, but we note with concern that there have been a number of incidents recently, and that tension is increasing,” partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

“We condemn all acts of violence without exception. The time for carrying and using weapons has ended; now is the time to build a peaceful nation,” they said.

The statement urged repentance and a firm commitment from all armed individuals, forces and communities, and from their leaders, to create an atmosphere where violence is not an option.

They however commended the earlier statements coming out from the leadership which called for calm.

“We are encouraged by the statements from both President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar calling for calm. We add our voices to theirs, and urge soldiers and civilians to refrain from provocative words and actions, and to do everything in their power to avoid escalating the situation.”

The leaders lamented that the killings “are not confined to Juba”, adding that Wau has been another violent spot in the country.

The also added: “…and we cannot forget the recent killing of our missionary Sister Dr Veronika in Yei only two months ago, as well as many other cases which are so common that they pass almost unnoticed.”

(ST)