As world prepares for Christmas, South Sudan Church leaders encourage hope among their people

The leaders said the people of the world’s youngest nation might not feel joyful this year as they are suffering misery, sickness, and death due to political and military unrest, and socio-economic situations.

“We must shine light into darkness. Still we can say, ‘Joy to the world,’ ” said Rev. James Oyet Latansio, general secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches in the leaders' Christmas message.

The message urges the people to celebrate Christmas with “all their hearts and might” in spite of the challenges, since Christmas is the celebration of hope, peace, joy, and love.

Of great concern now is the latest flare-up in Fashoda County of the Upper Nile State. Factional fighting triggered on Aug.15 has displaced at least 20,000 people, according to the UN. An estimated 3,000 have fled to the neighbouring countries, as the fighting spread to the neighbouring Jonglei and Unity states.

According to the leaders, the intense fighting has triggered a humanitarian crisis, killed innocent civilians and destroyed ancestral villages. It has also triggered the movement of unaccompanied children as parents die in the crossfire.

“This violence continues to inflict human misery and has killed scores of innocent [people]. Fleeing civilians are traumatized and report killings, injuries, gender-based violence, abductions, extortions, pillaging, and the torching of property,” reads the statement, which appealed to the leadership of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to act to save lives.

“We call on the international community not to get tired of supporting innocent South Sudanese who are caught in the communal violence and armed conflict. These innocent people are in dire need of political and humanitarian intervention.”

“Joy to the world” of the newborn savior is something needed in South Sudan, according to the statement, although proclaiming joy in the current circumstances is difficult.

At the same time, the leaders said they cannot give up hope.

“It is hope that will give us the strength to get up every morning and continue living our lives. If there is hope, there is no fear of moving forward,” said the message.

Meanwhile, the leaders have urged sustainable peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness, as the country awaits Christmas and a global Christian leaders’ ecumenical pilgrimage of peace in February.