End conflict to honour Pope, Vatican diplomat tells South Sudan
South Sudanese leaders should "honour" Pope Francis' legacy by ending the country's conflict, the nation's diplomatic representative for the Vatican stated.
"We must try to make concrete in the daily life of South Sudan his ardent wish to see a true, durable peace, to see dialogue as the condition of that peace and to see the silencing of the weapons of war," Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan said.
During the late pontiff's historic 2023 trip to South Sudan, he urged leaders to end the fighting.
Recent violence has threatened to end a fragile peace agreement struck in 2018 between factions in the east African nation's civil war.
Why fears are growing of a return of civil war to South Sudan
'We walked for nine days to see the Pope'
The mother and children trapped between two conflicts
Tensions rose at the start of March, when a militia group allied to Vice-President Riek Machar during South Sudan's civil war clashed with the army.
The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicolas Haysom, recently warned that the country was "on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war".
Archbishop Horgan said Pope Francis "spoke firmly" during his 2023 visit, calling for "no more bloodshed, no more conflict, no more violence", adding that the late pontiff's message was still "relevant".
The Archbishop, who spoke to congregants attending Mass at St Theresa's Cathedral in the capital, Juba, on Friday, said it was "disheartening" to see continuing reports of violence.
The same day, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) called for an end to the clashes in the country after reports of fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and South Sudan People's Defence Forces.
Meanwhile, Machar, who leads the SPLM-IO, remains under house arrest, facing accusations of trying to spark a rebellion.
Shortly after South Sudan's birth in 2011, the country descended into civil war between supporters of Machar and President Salva Kiir.
Archbishop Horgan reminded congregants that South Sudan held a special place in the Pope's heart, outlining his "extraordinary relationship" with the country and "affection" for the people.
The Mass was also attended by Kiir and Vice-President Taban Deng Gai – two of the four South Sudanese leaders – whose feet were kissed by Pope Francis in the Vatican in 2019.
Speaking at the end of the Mass, Kiir said: "As an icon of peace, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, harmony and inclusivity, Pope Francis' message resonated with the people of all faiths all over the world."
However, Christian faithful who attended the Mass said they were disappointed that the president did not use the opportunity to re-commit to peace, reconciliation and dialogue.
Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) and the Anglican Primate, who took part in the prayer service, said: "It is sad that Pope Francis has passed on when the Revitalised Peace Agreement is seriously sick.
"As we celebrate his passing on today, we call upon the transitional government of national unity to make every effort to make sure that the revitalised agreement, which is seriously sick, does not die."
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Santo Loku Pio, said the leaders of South Sudan chose to ignore Pope Francis' iconic "simplicity and gesture" in Rome in 2019, when he knelt down and kissed their feet in a humble plea for peace, unity and reconciliation.
He said the gesture by the Pope remained "deeply moving".
Bishop Loku added that Pope Francis wanted to make South Sudan a nation that understood the urgency for peace, unity and reconciliation, but that the leaders of the country ignored had his efforts.
Ambassadors, religious leaders from other Christian denominations, and representatives of Muslim community also attended the prayer service.
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Africa Daily
Focus on Africa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Court fight pits religious group that doesn't want LGBTQ+ employees against WA law
(Photo by) A Christian ministry in Yakima and the state of Washington are clashing in federal court over whether the religious group can decline to hire LGBTQ+ employees. The Union Gospel Mission of Yakima runs a homeless shelter, addiction recovery programs and medical and dental clinics. The mission wants only to hire employees who follow the biblical notions forbidding sex outside of marriage and between anyone other than a man and woman. State law forbids hiring practices based on sexual orientation, with limited exceptions for religious organizations. Federal appeals court judges in Seattle heard arguments Tuesday in the case, which began in 2023. The dispute serves as a First Amendment test of Washington's anti-discrimination law and could land at the U.S. Supreme Court, where conservative justices have signaled interest in interrogating the statute. At least two other lawsuits over the law are also underway. 'The First Amendment does not allow the government to force a religious organization to hire someone who rejects its faith,' said the mission's attorney Jeremiah Galus, from the conservative Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom. The arguments at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came months after a federal judge in eastern Washington blocked the state from enforcing the law against the gospel mission. The attorney general's office has said it has no plans to take action. The state appealed, leading to Tuesday's court hearing. The three-judge panel in a Seattle courtroom sounded skeptical of the state's arguments. Judge Johnnie Rawlinson noted the courts' history of respect for the right to practice religion without government interference. 'It's really difficult to use a state law to negate those rights,' said Rawlinson, a Clinton appointee. 'It's a difficult challenge.' The case began after the mission reportedly chose to take down two job postings focused on information technology and operations because of applicants with opposing beliefs on sexual orientation. The mission said the positions are 'ministerial,' in line with a state Supreme Court ruling exempting such employees. The state agreed and argued that this makes the case moot. But Judge Patrick Bumatay suggested the opposite is true. By saying it won't go after the mission for these employees, the state implies it could enforce the law when the group goes to hire for other positions, he said. 'It almost heightens the need for this pre-enforcement action,' said Bumatay, a Trump appointee who is openly gay. Galus on Tuesday walked back the mission's previous argument, acknowledging the two specific employees aren't ministerial. Washington deputy solicitor general Cynthia Alexander said the mission is trying to broaden the current exemption for ministers. 'They want to be able to discriminate in hiring for any position,' Alexander told the panel of judges. Attorneys general from 20 states, including Florida, Idaho and Texas, have urged the court to rule in favor of the Union Gospel Mission. The American Civil Liberties Union has sided with the state, arguing the district court's ruling 'would effectively strip an enormous number of employees of critical antidiscrimination protections.' 'That would include not only employees of religious organizations but also the thousands of employees of the religiously affiliated hospitals that account for nearly half of the hospital beds in the state and all those who work for the myriad religiously affiliated charities, among others,' the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote in a court filing. The panel made no ruling after Tuesday's arguments. It could be months until they release one. President Donald Trump appointed two of the three judges hearing the case, Bumatay and Judge Daniel Bress. The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits employers from refusing to hire, firing or underpaying employees on the basis of race, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, among other grounds. The law exempts those with fewer than eight employees, as well as nonprofit religious organizations. In 2021, the Washington state Supreme Court ruled that the religious exemption applies only to employees considered ministers. In that case, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the matter. The court declined, but Justice Samuel Alito took issue with the Washington decision, writing that it could conflict with the U.S. Constitution and 'warrant review' in the future. 'The day may soon come when we must decide whether the autonomy guaranteed by the First Amendment protects religious organizations' freedom to hire co-religionists without state or judicial interference,' Alito wrote. 'To force religious organizations to hire messengers and other personnel who do not share their religious views would undermine not only the autonomy of many religious organizations but also their continued viability,' the conservative justice continued. Just over a year after the state Supreme Court ruling, Seattle Pacific University, a private Christian school affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, decided to keep its policy that employees follow the 'traditional view on Biblical marriage and sexuality.' Then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson launched an investigation into Seattle Pacific University's hiring practices based on the new reading of the anti-discrimination law. In 2022, the school sued the state, arguing the probe from Ferguson, who is now governor, violated its constitutional right to religious freedom. The following year, the Union Gospel Mission of Yakima got in on the action, filing its lawsuit against the state. At first, a federal judge in Richland dismissed the mission's case, since the state had taken no action to enforce the anti-discrimination law against it. The 9th Circuit reversed that decision last summer. A few months later, the same Richland judge, a Biden appointee, sided with the Yakima gospel mission, granting a preliminary injunction. The Seattle Pacific University case is ongoing in federal court in Seattle, with a trial set for next April. And that's not the only other case pending on this issue. Two weeks ago, the 9th Circuit heard arguments in the case of another religious nonprofit, called World Vision, that rescinded a Washington woman's job offer after learning she was in a same-sex marriage. A federal judge in Seattle had ruled World Vision violated the state anti-discrimination law. That appeal, before a different three-judge panel, is awaiting a ruling.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
IDF says roads to Gaza aid centres are 'combat zones' as sites close for day
Aid distribution centres in Gaza will be closed for a day on Wednesday, as the Israeli military warned roads leading to the sites will be considered "combat zones". The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial US and Israel-backed aid network which began operating last week, said it was closing its sites for "update, organization and efficiency improvements works". In a separate update, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said people would be "prohibited" from entering the distribution centres or travelling on roads leading to them. Overnight on Tuesday, at least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire close to a distribution centre, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency. The IDF said its troops fired shots after identifying suspects who moved towards them "deviating from the designated access routes". It was the third deadly incident in as many days to occur on a route to a GHF site. GHF said it would start distributing aid again on Thursday. It comes as humanitarian organisations continue to warn that Palestinians in Gaza do not have sufficient access to food, water and other supplies. The GHF aims to replace the UN-led aid distribution network in Gaza following repeated claims from Israel that it did not prevent supplies being hijacked by Hamas, which the UN denies. Under the new distribution system, Gazans are required to collect supplies from a small number of centres in areas under Israeli military control and staffed by armed American contractors. Critics say the model has left people needing to walk long distances to the sites and transport boxes weighing 20kg back to their homes or shelters. The UN and other humanitarian organisations have accused the GHF of failing to uphold humanitarian principles. Also on Tuesday, Reverend Dr Johnnie Moore - a Christian evangelical pastor and prominent supporter of US President Donald Trump - was announced as the new head of GHF. He was appointed to replace its first chief Jake Wood, a former US marine who stood down and criticised the GHF model. Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas' cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 54,470 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 4,201 since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, according to the territory's health ministry. Killings near Gaza aid centre will deepen criticism of Israel's new distribution system
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hair braiding bill stalls in Illinois House despite Senate approval
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — A bill that would have eliminated the need for licensed hair braiders has stalled in the Illinois House. would have removed the requirement that hair braiders receive 300 hours of classroom and practical experience to practice their trade. The bill passed the Senate in May. Advocates for the bill argued that striking the education requirement would allow more people to enter the workforce, since many African-Americans develop the skill throughout their lives. Opponents said deregulation would open the industry to unsafe risks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
