South Sudan’s church leaders have appealed for international support as the country prepares for its first elections since independence.

A delegation from the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) addressed a private meeting at Lambeth Palace on Friday, hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally. The meeting was jointly convened by the Church of England and Christian Aid and attended by ecumenical leaders, faith-based NGOs and government officials.

The SSCC’s General Secretary, Rev Tut Kony Nyang Kon, wrote in a letter to attendees: “We ask that you do not forget South Sudan and continue to partner with us as we redouble our efforts for peace.”

Dame Sarah, the Archbishop of Westminster Most Rev Richard Moth, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy, replied in a letter dated 23 October,

“We commit to stand with you, in solidarity, in prayer and in the spirit of the Ecumenical Peace Pilgrimage. We also know that far more than elections will be needed for peace.”

"We 'weep with those who weep' (Rom 12:15) and lament with you the extreme conditions much of the population is living in, including acute food shortages, internal displacement and the daily threat of violence."

Christian Aid supported the delegation’s UK visit, which includes meetings with politicians and church leaders.

South Sudan faces national and regional conflict, the impacts of climate change and high levels of acute food insecurity. President Salva Kiir has called its first elections since independence in 2011 for this December.