As Easter approaches, residents of Juba are bracing for celebrations marked by faith and perseverance, even as economic hardship continues to weigh heavily on many families.
Easter, one of Christianity’s holiest days, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after His crucifixion. For many faithful in South Sudan, it’s a time of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and communal forgiveness—values that are especially poignant during the current economic crisis.
Despite the soaring prices and limited resources, some believers are finding strength and joy in the message of Easter.
“I am more than ready to celebrate Easter,” said Sarah Nyibol, a committed member of the Presbyterian Church in Jebel. “Jesus overcame death, and here in South Sudan, we too can overcome challenges like poverty and high market prices.”
Sarah acknowledges that the joy of the season can be bittersweet when basic needs are unmet.
“It’s hard to ululate in joy when your children look at you with empty stomachs,” she said. “They wonder why their mother is smiling when there’s no food. It hurts.”
Still, her family is focused on what matters most: prayer, forgiveness, and love.
“This Easter, I’ve been visiting neighbors to ask for forgiveness and to forgive those who have wronged me. That is the real meaning of Easter – love and unity, even if there’s no food on the table.”
Moses Amule, a member of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, shared a similar sentiment. For him, Easter is a spiritual triumph, but the realities of daily life cast a long shadow.
“I’m not celebrating with meat or feasting – my joy is in knowing that my sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus,” he said. “But it’s painful. My kids have no charcoal to cook, no medicine when they’re sick. We need to put our suffering into prayer.”
Moses called on the government to urgently address the economic crisis so families can celebrate such moments with dignity.
“Only a few people can afford to celebrate properly. The majority are just praying and hoping,” he said.
Local church leaders are also encouraging people to find meaning in the spiritual aspect of Easter rather than material celebration.
“Easter is a day of liberation—Jesus died for our sins,” said Paulino Adup, a priest at St. John Church in Mouriaya. “Even in the face of economic hardship, our hearts remain joyful.”
He urged believers to pray not just for their personal struggles, but also for national healing and peace amid ongoing conflict and inflation.
In his Good Friday message, Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba called for reconciliation.
“The journey toward lasting peace requires us to lay down the burden of the past, heal wounds, and build trust,” Cardinal Ameyu said. “Let us work for a peace that transcends political and ethnic divides.”
As the nation marks Easter, the resilience of Juba’s faithful reminds us all that even in times of great difficulty, hope can rise again.
