Prayers for South Sudan

Posted in News

Over the past several days, heavy fighting in South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, has killed hundreds of civilians and displaced thousands.

Although rivals President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar announced a ceasefire on Monday 11 July, tensions remain high.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 but has since been plagued by civil war, divided along ethnic, tribal lines. This week’s violence – a result of clashes between troops loyal to the President (an ethnic Dinka) and those loyal to the Vice-President (a Nuer) – has threatened the August 2015 peace deal between the factions. There are fears the country could soon be facing another full-scale civil war.

Speaking to UnitingWorld, Rev Peter Shabak Gatluak of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan described the feeling of “fear and panic” in Juba. He has asked the Uniting Church in Australia to pray for South Sudan and its people.

“Please join us in praying for the people of South Sudan, as well as our partner church as they work for sustainable peace and lead their people through uncertain times,” says the statement from UnitingWorld.

New Times online will provide updates on the South Sudanese clash and church responses as they are available.

Uniting Church SA Moderator Dr Deidre Palmer recently shared a reflection on other violent events that have taken place over past months. Many of these thoughts are also applicable to the South Sudanese tensions. Read the reflection here.


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