The US Ambassador to South Sudan has urged citizens to make peace a constant priority, rather than pursuing it only when it serves their interests.
US Ambassador Michael Adler made the remarks in a speech prepared for delivery at the Presbyterian Evangelical Church General Assembly on 6 March.
He said he was particularly troubled by recent reports of violence in Upper Nile State, emphasizing that every human life is sacred. Those who encourage or engage in violence, he added, disregard this fundamental truth.
Adler stressed that it is time for all South Sudanese to work towards peace as a matter of urgency. He noted that US support for the country is driven by private citizens who wish to see an end to the suffering of the South Sudanese people. Many of these citizens, he said, channel their efforts through churches and other religious institutions.
“I encourage you – individually and collectively – to use your voice and influence to help guide your country towards the peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts,” Adler said.
“May your efforts extend beyond this workshop. May they advance the sacred objectives of peace and reconciliation for all South Sudanese, from every part of the country – whether Azande, Bari, Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, or any of the nation’s 64 communities,” he added.
The US diplomat’s call comes amid rising tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar, who leads the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO).
Last week, militias allegedly loyal to Machar overran the town of Nasir in Upper Nile State, resulting in numerous casualties, including the death of an SSPDF commander.
The violence has prompted President Kiir’s administration to intensify its crackdown on Machar’s allies. Among those detained are Petroleum Minister Puot Kang, Nasir lawmaker Gatwech Lam Puoch, and several senior military officials aligned with the First Vice President.
These developments have raised fresh concerns about the stability of South Sudan’s fragile 2018 peace agreement, which ended a five-year civil war that devastated the country.