AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Christian Churches: "Stop the violence, instigated by leaders, most of whom call themselves Christians"

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - "People are being killed, raped and tortured. (...). Children are being recruited into armed groups and looting is endemic", denounces the South Sudan Council of Churches, the body that brings together the Christian Churches of South Sudan, including the Catholic Church, in a statement issued on May 26 and sent to Agenzia Fides. The civil war that broke out in December 2013 between the two factions, respectively loyal to President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, has so far caused at least 10,000 dead and one million displaced.
Despite peace talks have been held in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, the war continues. "There is no moral justification for the killing to continue", said the message, adding: "it is unacceptable for negotiations about power and positions to take place in luxury hotels while people are still killing and being killed".
The church leaders say they "seriously doubt" that South Sudan’s military and political leaders, "most of whom call themselves Christians", will heed their call to stop fighting. "Nevertheless, we want them, along with the citizens of South Sudan and our friends in the region and the international community, to know that we are watching and we are aware of what is happening". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/05/2015)