The Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference has strongly condemned the recent killing of civilians in Ayod County of Jonglei State and Abiemnhom County in the Ruweng Administrative Area, describing the violence as a grave sin against humanity and an offense against God.
According to local authorities, more than 100 people were killed in a deadly attack on Abiemnhom County in the early hours of Sunday, March 1, 2026, at around 4:00 a.m. Separate violence in Ayod County also left scores of civilians dead, with reports indicating that hundreds have been killed across the two areas in recent days. The attacks have triggered fresh displacement and heightened tensions among communities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the President of the Bishops’ Conference and Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Stephen Cardinal Ameyu Martin Mulla, urged the transitional government to act swiftly and decisively.
“We issue an urgent appeal to the transitional government at all levels. You are the custodians of the common good entrusted with the duty to protect life. We call upon you to act immediately and transparently, investigate these atrocities, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure that such evildoing does not happen again,” the statement read.
The bishops said there can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians, emphasizing that such acts undermine the country’s fragile peace and reconciliation efforts.
The United Nations has also expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of South Sudan, calling on all armed actors to cease hostilities, protect civilians, and allow humanitarian access to affected areas.
The UN warned that continued attacks on communities’ risk deepening intercommunal divisions and worsening the humanitarian situation in an already vulnerable region.
National Government released statement appealed for calm among communities in Abiemnhom and Mayom counties Ruweng, urging restraint and dialogue to prevent revenge attacks.
Authorities say efforts are underway to restore stability, promote reconciliation initiatives, and enhance security deployments in affected areas.
The Catholic Church leadership echoed calls for reconciliation, urging the government to provide adequate protection to vulnerable populations and to prioritize dialogue over violence.
The bishops also conveyed their solidarity with local Church leaders directly affected by the attacks, including Stephen Nyodo Ador of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Malakal and Christian Carlassare of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bentiu.
“We recognize the weight of this grief upon you as shepherds,” the statement noted, while extending condolences to bereaved families and expressing closeness to survivors.
The bishops further called on humanitarian agencies and people of goodwill to provide urgent assistance, including psychosocial support and necessities, to affected communities.
Reaffirming their commitment to peacebuilding, the Catholic leaders pledged to continue advocating for the voiceless, defending the vulnerable, and fostering reconciliation across South Sudan.
