The Church of Scotland has joined with ecumenical partners to congratulate the world’s newest nation South Sudan on its 10th anniversary and to call for continued international efforts to secure peace and reconciliation across the country.

South Sudan became a nation on July 9 2011 amid celebrations and a commitment in its Declaration of Independence to, “establish a system of governance that upholds the rule of law, justice, democracy, human rights and respect for diversity”.

Yet the statement from the Ecumenical Network for South Sudan (Europe and North America Hub) notes that despite a renewed peace agreement signed in 2018 violence has continued and millions of people have been displaced to refugee camps.

“We express our grave concern about the continuation of violence in various areas of the country, where civilians continue to suffer, being killed, displaced, sexually abused, or starved,” the statement says.

“Combined with flooding, droughts and locust caused devastation, people face one of the largest food crises in the world.

“We call upon the national, regional and international community to encourage the government in Juba to implement the peace agreement, to mitigate the looming crises in South Sudan.”

The Church of Scotland has supported peace efforts through training church leaders in mediation and conflict resolution.