Archbishop of Juba discusses situation in South Sudan

South Sudan has been wrecked by decades of civil war. Having only gained independence a decade ago, most of the people in the country live in poverty with the dangers of future conflict being ever-present. ACN spoke with the Archbishop of Juba about the current situation in South Sudan.

By ACN Staff

Emergency support for poor families from the Comboni Missionaries. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

South Sudan is one of the youngest countries in the world. The predominantly Christian South Sudan gained independence from the mostly Muslim Sudan in 2011. Tragically, the country since independence has been devastated by civil war and strife caused by corruption and tribal feuds. Over half of the population receive humanitarian assistance. Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of the South Sudanese capital, Juba, sat down for an interview with André Stiefenhofer from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to speak about the situation and needs of South Sudan.

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla from Juba, South Sudan. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Archbishop Mulla explained that South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world and has just emerged from decades of civil war. The country lacks infrastructure and everything, including food and water, is scarce. Many people in the country spend their days trying to find food and water. This year there was also a drought, which made things worse. The results of local conflicts also compound the situation.

The archbishop told us about the Church in these circumstances:

“The Christians are suffering greatly. Our priests are also experiencing many hardships. In some parishes there are only straw huts, no electricity or water. In those places that do not have a church, the people come together to pray in the shade of the trees. But the people come in large numbers; the faith is strong…The Church is a sign of peace and hope for the people in South Sudan. It was and is a leader in the educational and health sectors. We do our best to ensure that people have food and water to drink. We try to encourage the people to farm so that they can take care of themselves. We are teaching the people to be confident and to stand up for their rights.”

South Sudan has rich natural resources. However, the archbishop explained that the benefits of the profits from the country’s oil fields do not trickle down to the regular people. The Church is talking to the government about this issue. The archbishop believes the discussions are going well and said that the government has started to build roads and hospitals. Government leaders have also told him that they do not intend on returning to war.

Missionaries of Charity school in El Obeid, South Sudan. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

The archbishop explained to ACN what the Church is doing to promote peace in the country:

“We have set up separate departments for justice and peace in all dioceses. We try to educate the people in unity and collaboration. Our problem is the tribal mindset, or tribalism, which has destroyed our social fabric. We are working hard to bring about a change in our people through reconciliation and dialogue to help the people understand that we are all brothers and sisters.”

Archbishop Mulla discussed that the bishops in South Sudan keep a close relationship with the bishops in Sudan:

“The bishops of the north and of the south stand together. This unity allows us to put our heads together and pool our ideas as to how we can solve the most pressing problems in Sudan and South Sudan. We are trying to exert pressure on our governments. They have to change their attitude towards the people.”

The archbishop finished his interview by explaining what people in the west could do to help South Sudan:

“I most urgently call for continued support in the area of education. Education is of utmost importance. The country is currently afflicted by severe famine. Even a little financial aid goes a long way, for example to build houses in our parishes. I am grateful to Aid to the Church in Need for giving us a platform to talk about our hardships and concerns. I thank all benefactors for their help!”

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