(TORIT COUNTY) – Governor Louis Lobong has urged church leaders in South Sudan to engage political leaders through private dialogue rather than resorting to public criticism. His call came at the conclusion of a nationwide 70 day prayer campaign held in Torit, Eastern Equatoria, marking the 70th anniversary of the historic Torit Mutiny.
The prayer campaign, organised by the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), ran from 10 June to 18 August 2025 under the theme, “Fulfil your good promises; Oh Lord!” The choice of Torit was symbolic, as it was here that the Southern Equatoria Corps rebelled on 18 August 1955, an event that ignited the First Sudanese Civil War and the demand for greater autonomy for the South.
In his address, Governor Lobong reminded citizens that peace is not only the duty of leaders but a shared responsibility of all South Sudanese. “It begins in our hearts, in our families, in our communities,” he said.
He urged churches to continue praying for leaders and to approach them personally with concerns.
“I appeal to the church leaders to visit the leaders in their offices, in their homes. Talk to them, rather than talking in the church,” he said. “When you talk to them in their own homes, they will listen to you. But if you go to the church and say, ‘Oh, this is like this,’ that is no longer advice, and nobody will listen.”
Lobong praised the gathering as a “sacred moment for unity, forgiveness, and reconciliation.” He also expressed gratitude to the South Sudan Council of Churches and the wider church networks for standing in prayer and intercession for the country’s leaders and its people.
He further thanked President Salva Kiir Mayardit, describing him as a “God fearing man” who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to peace. He also commended the discipline and sacrifice of the country’s security forces, describing them as pillars on which peace can be built.
The 70th anniversary of the Torit Mutiny gave the event special significance. That mutiny laid the foundation for the Anya-Nya One movement and eventually the SPLM struggle, leading to South Sudan’s independence. Governor Lobong reflected on these sacrifices while recognising that the nation has since faced new challenges, particularly the conflicts of 2013 and 2016.
However, he expressed optimism in the assurances from President Kiir that South Sudan will not return to war and in the resilience of the people who continue to strive for a better future.
“Peace is more than the absence of war,” the governor told the gathering. “It is the presence of justice, the assurance of security, the opportunity for prosperity, and the commitment to live as neighbours in mutual respect.”
