Church leaders in Western Equatoria State called for an immediate Christmas ceasefire in all troubled areas of South Sudan.
Tombura-Yambio Catholic Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, ECSSS Bishop of Nzara Samuel Peni, Lutheran Bishop Wilson Noah and Seven Days Adventist Church Pastor called on the aggrieved parties to resolve their political disputes through negotiations and non-violent means.
The Bishops in their joint statement said a ceasefire would enable all concerned bodies to suspend military operations to pave the way for dialogue and peace.
The Church leaders reasoned that ceasefire would stop all war of words, inflammatory statements and use of abusive language at this time.
They expressed readiness to offer assistance to bring about peace and reconciliation.
The Bishops called on the aggrieved leaders to utilize the peace and reconciliation abilities of the ecumenical Church of South Sudan to heal the rifts and wounds of the nation.