By Binia Elizabeth

The South Sudan Catholic bishops have strongly condemned the alleged remarks attributed to Gen. Johnson Olony, Deputy Chief of SSPDF for Mobilization and Disarmament, reportedly calling for indiscriminate violence against civilians in Jonglei State.

The bishops said any directive to “spare no lives” amounts to a call for “genocide” and urged fighting forces to reject orders that target innocent civilians or inflame inter-communal violence.

Addressing political leaders directly, the bishops said citizens are not property but human beings who deserve peace, dignity and freedom.

They called on leaders to listen to the suffering of the people and to act in their best interests.

The bishops also echoed the words of the late Pope Francis, who repeatedly appealed to South Sudanese leaders to end war and bloodshed, and to replace violence with peace and nation-building.

Despite the grim situation, the bishops encouraged citizens not to lose hope, calling for prayer and unity.

They further urged South Sudanese to work for what unites them, stressing that the country belongs to future generations and that there is no alternative homeland.

The bishops thanked regional bodies and the international community for their continued support and appealed to them not to tire of standing with the people of South Sudan.

They also condemned the renewed fighting between government forces and the Sudan People Liberation Army in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), warning that the deteriorating political, security and humanitarian situation is pushing the country closer to widespread violence and civilian suffering.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Bishops expressed deep alarm over clashes particularly in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria States.

Quoting Romans 14:19  “Let us pursue what leads to peace and to building one another up” the bishops urged political leaders in both the unity government and opposition groups to abandon military confrontation and embrace dialogue, unity, peace and reconciliation.

The bishops recalled that they raised similar concerns twice in 2025, warning that the sidelining of genuine dialogue in favour of military solutions was worsening the country’s crises.

The clerics questioned whether leaders were prioritising the well-being of citizens or pursuing power and wealth at the expense of national stability.

During their annual plenary meeting held in Malakal in November 2025, the bishops called for the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), saying it was essential to restore public confidence and create space for sincere dialogue.

However, the bishops said they were “alarmed and surprised” by what they described as a total disregard for the peace agreement.

They warned that internal divisions within the unity government, continued attacks and counterattacks across the country, and rising insecurity were leading to displacement, hunger and inhumane living conditions.

The communique also raised concern over the growing incidence of armed robbery in Juba and other parts of the country, as well as the spread of hate speech, misinformation and tribal incitement on social media.