The Church of Scotland has joined international calls to redouble efforts to secure lasting peace in South Sudan.

The Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, is among Christian figures and members of the Ecumenical Network on South Sudan (ENSS), who signed a statement to mark International Day of Peace on September 21.

The signatories, which include the Presbyterian Church USA, Bread for the World Germany and Tearfund, said they stand in solidarity with women, men, boys and girls who have for many years borne the burden of conflicts in the troubled country.

The Church of Scotland has a partnership with the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and has been actively involved in trying to secure unity and lasting peace since 2015.

The statement reads: “Despite some progress in bringing peace to the country, we are gravely concerned about the continuation of violence in various areas of the country and the availability of arms which continues to fuel violence in the country.

“We call upon all in South Sudan to respect the dignity of human life as we call for increased preventative, investigative and just efforts to end these devastating acts of violence.

“We call for adequate, multi-year and flexible humanitarian funding, expedited especially to frontline organisations.

“We also urge the Government of South Sudan and other parties to ensure full, unrestricted and unhindered humanitarian access to all regions of the country.”