Africa: Pope Francis renewed a strong call for peace in the war-torn country on 4th February 2023, urging South Sudan’s leaders to restore “dignity” to the millions of their citizens afflicted by the conflict. Mr. Francis heard from youngsters who have spent a large portion of their lives running from violence on the second day of his visit to South Sudan, a country that has been at war for approximately half its history.

The 86-year-old pontiff has been pressuring South Sudan’s leaders to mend differences for the sake of a nation traumatised by the legacy of a five-year civil war that claimed 380,000 lives. The world’s newest nation has seen a cease-fire, but peace has escaped it. Mr. Francis, who tried to mediate peace between the warring parties, now finds South Sudan plagued by violence and despondency.

Mr. Francis stated that the hundreds of refugees from conflict deserved a better future.
“Sadly, in this war-torn country, being a displaced person or a refugee has become a common and collective experience,” Pope told the crowd in Juba.

“I want to renew my forceful and heartfelt appeal to end all conflict and to resume the peace process in a serious way, so that violence can end and people can return to living in dignity,” Pope remarked.
In South Sudan, there are 2.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs), and there are an additional 2 million outside the nation.

We cannot remain neutral before the pain caused by acts of injustice and violence. To violate the fundamental rights of any woman or man is an offence against Christ. #ApostolicJourney #SouthSudan https://t.co/qtsl9YlTWz

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) February 4, 2023

It is Africa’s worst refugee crisis. People who have been displaced in South Sudan reside in overcrowded, filthy, and underfunded camps that are guarded by the UN; they are either too afraid to leave or have nowhere to go back to.

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