Archbishop speaks out on South Sudan

9th July 2021 marked the tenth anniversary of the founding of South Sudan, the world's youngest country as an independent state, after 22 years of civil war and a further six years of negotiation.

Read our story here.

The Most Revd Dr Justin Badi Arama, Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, sent a strongly-worded pastoral letter, saying:

Dear fellow South Sudanese citizens,

May the joy of independence and God's peace fill our hearts as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of our independence as a sovereign nation of South Sudan.

We appreciate and congratulate our president, HE Salva Kiir Mayardit for his wise leadership from the time of referendum to this 10th anniversary.

We acknowledge with thanks to God the sacrificial efforts done by our liberators and all those who supported us in our struggle for freedom. We all hoped for a peaceful and joyful life in our new nation, but our hearts have continued with pain, anguish and misery brought by our own evil actions.

On this day we should humbly listen to the voice of God that says: Come now, let's settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow, though they are red like crimson, I will make them white as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Now, with freedom in our minds, and Christian faith in our hearts, I appeal to all our citizens to decease from violence and embrace brotherhood, love, peace, unity, forgiveness and reconciliation.

We appeal to the Revitalized Government of national unity to double her effort in speeding the implementation of the revitalized agreement in letter and spirit in order to put an end to the long suffering of the miserable citizens of this nation.

We continuously commit ourselves in prayers for God's will to be done in South Sudan as it is in heaven.

Hope and Peace of God be with you all. Thank you.

View a copy here.

The Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser on Anglican Communion Affairs, has written in the Church Times about South Sudan’s difficult first decade.

View the article here.