Latest news with #RevitalisedPeaceAgreement
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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 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
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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 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
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
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 the late pontiff's historic 2023 trip to South Sudan, he urged leaders to end the 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 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 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 Machar, who leads the SPLM-IO, remains under house arrest, facing accusations of trying to spark a after South Sudan's birth in 2011, the country descended into civil war between supporters of Machar and President Salva 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 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 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 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 religious leaders from other Christian denominations, and representatives of Muslim community also attended the prayer service. Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Sudan opposition says peace deal has collapsed after arrest of its leader
South Sudan's main opposition party has said a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war has collapsed, following the arrest of its leader Riek Machar a day earlier. The party's deputy chairman, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, said in a statement that the agreement 'has been abrogated' and that Mr Machar's arrest shows a lack of political goodwill to achieve peace and stability. The UN warned on Monday that the country was teetering on the edge of a renewed civil war following fighting in the north between an armed group allied to Mr Machar and government forces. South Sudan's five-year civil war, in which 400,000 people were killed, ended in a 2018 peace agreement that brought President Salva Kiir and Mr Machar together in a unity government. Mr Machar is one of the five vice presidents in the country. Mr Machar was 'in confinement by the government' and his life was 'at risk', opposition spokesman Pal Mai Deng said in a video address to the media on Wednesday night. The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said following reports of the detention of Mr Machar all parties should 'exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalised Peace Agreement'. Tensions have been increasing between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar's parties and escalated in March when the White Army, an armed group loyal to Mr Machar, overran an army base in Upper Nile state and attacked a UN helicopter. The government responded with air strikes, warning any civilian in the area where the army group is based to vacate or 'face consequences'. #NewsAlert Protection of civilians and adherence to peace agreement critical to preventing all-out war in #SouthSudan Urgent, coordinated action is needed to protect civilians & uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement Read Full statement: — UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (@UNCHRSS) March 27, 2025 More than a dozen people have died since the air strikes started in mid-March and the UN warned of a renewed civil war if the leaders do not put the country's interests first. 'Tonight, the country's leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalised Peace Agreement,' Mr Haysom said in a statement on Wednesday night. An opposition official described 20 heavily armed vehicles arriving at Mr Machar's home where he was arrested alongside his wife. 'His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges,' said Reath Muoch Tang, an official in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition. The African Union Commission's chairman, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said he would deploy a team to Juba 'as part of efforts to de-escalate the situation'. In a statement on X, the US State Department's bureau of African affairs urged Mr Kiir to reverse the house arrest and 'prevent further escalation of the situation'. The chairwoman of the UN commission on human rights in South Sudan, Yasmin Sooka, said on Thursday that 'the deliberate targeting of opposition leaders and civilians represents a reckless disregard for international law and the country's future'. In early March, several of Mr Machar's senior allies were arrested by security forces, an action his supporters condemned as a 'grave violation' of the peace deal. Germany and Norway have temporarily closed their respective embassies in Juba. The British Embassy said it had temporarily reduced its staff with consular services 'severely limited'.
Sky News
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar detained amid warnings of renewed civil war in world's youngest country
South Sudan's main opposition party has said its leader has been arrested amid warnings of renewed civil war in the world's youngest country. Riek Machar was "in confinement by the government", and his life was "at risk", opposition spokesperson Pal Mai Deng said in a video statement sent to the media on Wednesday night. "His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges. Attempts are currently being made to relocate him," Mr Tang said. He was detained after "more than 20 heavily armed vehicles, forcefully entered his residence", according to a Facebook post by Reath Muoch Tang, the foreign relations committee chairman of the SPLM-IO party (Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition). His arrest comes after fighting in the north between an armed group allied to Mr Machar and government forces, which the UN has warned, could plunge the country back into full-scale civil war. The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, reacting to news of the arrest, urged all parties to "exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalised Peace Agreement". SPLM-IO joined a unity government with president Salva Kiir in a power-sharing deal that ended South Sudan's five-year civil war in 2018, in which around 400,000 people were killed. Simmering tensions between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar's parties turned into renewed conflict last month when the White Army, an armed group loyal to Mr Machar, stormed an army base in Upper Nile state and attacked a UN helicopter. The government responded with airstrikes, warning any civilians in the area where the army group was based to leave or "face consequences". More than a dozen people have died since the airstrikes started. The UN warned on Monday of a renewed civil war if the leaders do not put the country's interests first. Mr Haysom said in a statement on Wednesday night that the country's leaders "stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy". Earlier this month, several of Mr Machar's senior allies were arrested by security forces, which his supporters condemned as a "grave violation" of the 2018 peace deal. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but the world's youngest nation has been plagued by conflict and instability ever since.
