All Saints Cathedral, Mobil -Juba the venue for the National Prayer and Fasting. Photo Credit: Emmanuel Kayanga

By: Emmanuel Kayanga | Juba | 21st – September – 2026

The Government and the South Sudan Council of Churches have renewed their call for all the citizens to move from prayer to practical action through dialogue, forgiveness and integrity as it conducted one day for National Prayer and Fasting for the country.

Addressing hundreds of Christians from different denominations during the National Prayer and Fasting event, Vice President and the Chairperson of the Economic Cluster , Dr. James Wani Igga said South Sudanese must decide what kind of future they want to leave for the next generation, whether one remembered for divisions and violence or one built on forgiveness, inclusivity and selflessness.

“What kind of South Sudan we want to leave for the next generation? Do we want to be remembered by divisions, chaos and violence? Or to be remembered by forgiveness, inclusivity, and Selflessness?” asked the Vice President.

He said fasting and prayer must lead to transformation in how people treat one another. He emphasized that praying for peace while promoting divisions has no meaning, and that true fasting must produce change of heart, behavior and culture, and make people compassionate towards orphans, widows, the displaced and all citizens who long for peace.

“Fasting and prayer must lead to transformation, to transform the way we treat one another. If we pray for peace but promote divisions, what can our prayers do or change??” added Dr. Igga.

The Acting Chairperson of the South Sudan Council of Churches Bishop James Lado Emiliano, said peace is the number one priority in South Sudan and prayer alone is not enough but, must lead to action and dialogue starting from the family up to the government level. He said people are crying due to insecurity, economic hardship, unpaid wages, and lack of access to their own money in banks, and called for economic liberation.

“There is suffering in this country and there is economic problem. No money, even wages are not being paid. Even some people are dying with their money in the bank. Where is the money in the bank? Give us our money,” said Bishop Emiliano.

He also appealed to leaders and church leaders to talk to their members one on one to bring change, and urged young people not to support leaders along tribal lines and not to allow themselves to be given guns to kill one another.

“You the bishops, talk to your members and Go to their homes,  maybe we will get change in this country. As we said, prayer is a step forward, but it is not everything. Let us now take concrete action to bring lasting peace into this land,” said the Bishop.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, said peace begins in the heart of every citizen, and that true peace is not just the absence of fighting but is built when citizens respect one another, communities resolve disagreements peacefully, and leaders act responsibly and respect the word of God.

“As Christians, we are reminded that peace is both a gift for which we pray, and we must actively pursue. We therefore, pray for peace in our families, peace in our communities, and peace throughout South Sudan,” said Governor Adil.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Central Equatoria State Government to work with religious leaders for peace, and said prayers should lead to action, where praying for reconciliation means willingness to forgive, praying for unity means rejecting division, and praying for peace means becoming instruments of peace.

“Our prayers should lead us into action and if we pray for reconciliation, we must be willing to forgive. If we pray for unity, we must reject division. If we pray for peace, we must become instruments of peace,” concluded the Governor.

The day-long prayer gathering in Juba brought together church leaders, government officials, women, youth, and faithful from different denominations to seek God’s intervention for peace, unity and economic recovery in the country.