(MALAKAL, UPPER NILE STATE) – The Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, has urged the Government of South Sudan to remove recently introduced taxes on Church properties and Church staff, warning that the measures could limit the Church’s ability to support vulnerable communities.
Speaking at the opening of the Bishops’ Plenary Assembly in Malakal Diocese, Cardinal Ameyu said the new tax requirements placed on religious institutions risk weakening the Church’s humanitarian and social services, particularly in areas affected by conflict and displacement. The Cardinal also serves as President of the Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference.
He said the Church intends to engage in constructive dialogue with the government, explaining that Church run schools, health centres and development programmes rely heavily on donor support and voluntary contributions, making additional taxation difficult to sustain.
According to the Cardinal, maintaining exemptions for religious institutions is important because many of them provide essential services where government capacity remains limited. He added that the Church plays a major role in supporting the poor, offering education, running medical facilities and supporting peacebuilding initiatives.
Cardinal Ameyu also encouraged bishops to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of Church resources. He said the Church must continue to work closely with the Bishops’ Conference Secretariat and its commissions to ensure effective planning and coordination of programmes.
He reaffirmed the Church’s engagement with regional and continental ecclesiastical bodies, including the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). Through these platforms, the Church works with partners to strengthen pastoral care, humanitarian support and peace advocacy.
The Cardinal said the Church and communities in South Sudan continue to face multiple pressures, including conflict in parts of the country and neighbouring Sudan, natural disasters in areas downstream along the Nile, and the economic effects of recent global shocks. He said these challenges require unity and cooperation throughout the Church and society.
He appealed for openness and support toward priests, religious workers and humanitarian volunteers who come to assist communities, saying such cooperation is essential for relief and recovery efforts.
The Cardinal also called on the leadership in both Sudan and South Sudan to work toward peace, noting that conflict continues to undermine development and stability. He said peace remains the foundation for progress and urged both governments to prioritise dialogue over confrontation.
The five day plenary meeting brings together bishops from across South Sudan to discuss pastoral planning, formation of clergy, and the Church’s response to rising social and economic pressures.