Gun battle brings South Sudan youth festival to a halt, hundreds of young Christians forced to flee

Hundreds of young Christians scampered away for safety after a gun battle puts an abrupt end to a three-day Christian youth festival in South Sudan.

According to the Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS), nearly 1,000 Christians from age 18 to 28 attended the open-air Christian outreach in the Anglican Diocese of Juba at the Munuki suburbs. The All Saints Anglican Cathedral, as well as other Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, became the refuge for the young people as the gun battle lasted through the night.

The violence happened on July 8 when soldiers and rebel forces began exchanging gunfire as Revd. Jackson Aripa made his closing remarks.

David Luate, a youth coordinator for the Diocese, reportedly rallied the young Christians to uphold their faith and to pray for their country, also the world's youngest nation, which spurred into violence as the forces of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Vice President Riek Machar renewed their infighting in early July. The two leaders declared a ceasefire on July 13.

Revd. Rachel Carnegie of Anglican Alliance said that most of the international agencies returned to their home countries as the violence heightened. He emphasized that the local churches remained to protect the "most vulnerable."

"It is inspirational to witness the courage and commitment of the bishops and provincial team responding so quickly and effectively to the crisis when many of them have themselves been driven from their homes by the violence," said Revd. Carnegie and added, "We urge prayer for peace and for protection of the Church and communities. The Anglican Alliance also commends support to the Church's humanitarian response."

Nagulan Nesiah, the senior program officer for disaster response and risk reduction of Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD), noted that "the Cathedral itself is able to provide some security to about 1,000 people."

The Anglican Churches provided shelter and food assistance to thousands affected by the civil war.

"We are keeping the Church and Sudra in our thoughts and stand ready to offer additional assistance as needed," said Nesiah, as reported by ACNS.