Thousands marched for peace on Good Friday in South Sudan as renewed fighting fuels fears the fragile nation could slide back into devastating civil war.
Crowds moved through the capital Juba in solemn procession, carrying crosses, singing hymns, and reenacting Jesus Christ’s crucifixion while praying for national reconciliation.
The march unfolded in the world’s youngest nation, where independence from Sudan in 2011 quickly gave way to conflict, poverty, and entrenched political divisions.
A 2018 power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and rival Riek Machar has steadily weakened since 2025, as clashes erupt across several regions.
Auxiliary Bishop Santo Loku Pio Doggale urged divine intervention, telling worshippers that repeated peace efforts have failed because leaders continue choosing division over unity.
“They want only to oppress. They want only to divide. They want to fight,” he said, his words echoing through the tightly packed gathering.
United Nations experts warned this week that South Sudan stands at a critical juncture, citing escalating violence, sexual abuse, and widespread displacement across vulnerable communities.
Archbishop Seamus Patrick Horgan, the Vatican’s envoy, told participants that years of suffering have exhausted the nation, urging prayers for an end to conflict.
South Sudan’s civil war between 2013 and 2018 killed more than 400,000 people, leaving deep scars that still shape daily life across the country.
Many residents said the march reflected collective exhaustion after decades shaped by violence, instability, and uncertain political transitions.
“We are praying for peace every day,” said Juba resident Lucia Peter, describing hope as the only refuge left for ordinary citizens.
Another resident, Joseph Kenyi Samuel, said generations raised amid war now long for stability, calling for peace to open a new chapter for South Sudan.
