South Sudan
South Sudanese churches call for acceptance of wartime sexual violence survivors
By Fredrick Nzwili — June 28, 2019
(RNS) — Thousands of women and girls in Africa’s newest nation who have suffered brutal sexual violence have been rejected by their families on their return to their communities.
In African refugee camps, app replaces Bibles left behind
By Doreen Ajiambo — May 6, 2019
KAMPALA, Uganda (RNS) — The digital library has done much to replace the reference books many Sudanese churches lost to their country's decade of civil war.
Pope kisses feet of South Sudan’s leaders to encourage peace
By Giada Zampano — April 12, 2019
(AP) — The pope usually holds a ritual washing of the feet with prisoners on Holy Thursday, but has never performed such a show of deference to political leaders.
Tired of war, South Sudanese pray for latest peace deal
By Doreen Ajiambo — October 17, 2018
JUBA, South Sudan (RNS) — Thousands of Southern Sudanese are gathering in churches and mosques in cities and refugee camps to pray for the end of a civil war that has raged since 2013.
Surgeon who recites Bible and Quran to patients wins UN award
By Bob Smietana — October 5, 2018
(RNS) — Inspired by his faith, this surgeon has spent more than two decades working to save the lives of people fleeing war and persecution in Sudan and South Sudan.
At world’s largest refugee camp, trauma victims seek healing in God
By Tonny Onyulo — August 8, 2018
BIDI BIDI REFUGEE CAMP, Uganda (RNS) – 'The church gives them new hope, which is important to refugees and any person who has experienced trauma,' says a counselor.
Religious leaders encourage LGBT exclusion in South Sudan
By Chol Duang Chan — February 2, 2018
JUBA, South Sudan -- In socially conservative South Sudan, LGBT people face discrimination and abuse, their non-traditional sexualities and genders often considered taboo.
Christian groups respond to growing Sudanese refugee crisis
By Lauren Markoe — August 24, 2017
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Christian agencies and churches are stepping up and coordinating their efforts to respond to the South Sudanese refugee crisis, as the number of people fleeing across the border into northern Uganda reaches 1 million.
Vatican scraps plan for pope to go to South Sudan this year
By Yonat Shimron — May 30, 2017
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) No official reason was given for the cancellation but Vatican and church sources said it was a combination of security concerns and logistics.
Pope to visit war and famine hit South Sudan in October — bishop
By Jerome Socolovsky — March 21, 2017
ROME (Reuters) Pope Francis will visit South Sudan in October if the security situation in the country stricken by civil war and famine does not worsen, a bishop from the country said.
UN report details ‘searing’ accounts of killings and rapes in South Sudan
By Fredrick Nzwili — March 11, 2016
(RNS) Churches and mosques are at the center of the violence, which includes the deaths of 60 cattle herders who suffocated to death while detained in a container at an abandoned Catholic church compound.
2 pastors facing death sentences freed in Sudan
By Fredrick Nzwili — August 5, 2015
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) The Rev. Michael Yat and the Rev. Peter Reith, Presbyterian Evangelical church pastors, faced espionage and other charges.
World Vision suspends operations in key South Sudan state over escalating violence
By Fredrick Nzwili — May 13, 2015
(RNS) Africa’s newest nation descended into chaos in December 2013 after a dispute in the ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.
Focus on Africa’s Islamic extremists has diverted attention from South Sudan’s growing crisis
By Fredrick Nzwili — February 5, 2015
(RNS) Motivated by tribal wars, the violence in South Sudan has pitted government troops from President Salva Kiir's Dinka tribe and rebels from rival Riek Machar’s Nuer tribe.
A ban on new church construction angers Sudanese Christians
By Fredrick Nzwili — July 23, 2014
(RNS) A Sudanese minister argued there is no need to grant new plots of land for churches.