Arop Jonchol
Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
Amid an ongoing legal dispute over land belonging to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in the Munuki-Hai Gezira area of Juba, Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Justin Badi Arama, has announced the launch of a month-long spiritual campaign of prayer and fasting. The move comes in response to what he described as an “unjust ruling” issued by the Central Equatoria State government against the church.
“If the government has decided that it no longer wants the church here, then we have no power left—only the power of God. We will turn to Him in prayer,” said Archbishop Badi in a message to congregants.
The Archbishop stated that prayer gatherings will take place every Thursday, Friday, and Sunday until the dispute is resolved. He emphasized that even if the church is demolished, the faithful will continue their prayers elsewhere.
Tensions escalated on Thursday morning when several church members attempted to dismantle structures on the disputed site, triggering clashes with local residents.
Despite the unrest, the Episcopal Church reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful means, urging calm and advocating for a fair solution that respects the rights of religious institutions and local communities alike.
