By Emmanuel Mandella

South Sudan’s Catholic bishops have appealed to the unity government to exempt humanitarian aid from tax and enable unimpeded access to communities trapped in conflict zones across the country.

Speaking during a press briefing in Juba on Friday, the bishops voiced concerns over escalating violence in parts of the country that continues to hinder the delivery of life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations. Their plea comes amid deepening humanitarian needs, with millions facing hunger, displacement, and lack of basic services.

“We call for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access across all conflict zones. This includes the establishment of protected corridors for aid delivery, and granting tax exemptions on humanitarian goods for faith-based and humanitarian organizations serving the suffering people of South Sudan,” the bishops said in a joint statement delivered by Cardinal Stephen Ameyu.

The clerics emphasized that aid should not be treated as a commercial transaction, especially in a country where over 75% of the population depends on humanitarian support for survival.

The Church’s message echoes the words of Pope Francis, who made a historic visit to South Sudan in February 2023. During his emotional address to the nation’s leaders in Juba, the pontiff pleaded for an end to the cycle of violence.

“It is time for peace; no more bloodshed, no more conflict, no more violence,” Pope Francis urged during his landmark visit.

Cardinal Ameyu reiterated this message, calling on the government to move beyond symbolic gestures and take real, practical steps to save lives.

“We are not here to speak in abstractions. People are dying of hunger, of disease, of war. It is the moral duty of the state to facilitate, not frustrate, efforts to help them,” he stressed.

The bishops’ call comes as aid agencies increasingly report bureaucratic hurdles, including customs delays and taxes on relief goods, which are impeding response efforts across hard-hit areas like Unity State, Jonglei, and parts of Upper Nile.

The South Sudan Council of Churches has also warned that unless these barriers are lifted and security guaranteed, more lives will be lost in silence.

Observers say the bishops’ united stand adds significant moral pressure on the government to act decisively, particularly at a time when peace remains fragile and public trust in institutions is relatively low.

The rallying call by the Catholic Church is could set the pace for those in need to access services if government moves in with speed.