Easter message of hope: NAS leader Gen Thomas Cirillo says South Sudan will rise again
General Thomas Cirillo, leader of the National Salvation Front (NAS), delivered a fiery Easter message on Sunday, condemning the government in Juba as corrupt and oppressive, and calling on South Sudanese to remain resilient in the face of suffering.
In a statement marking the Christian holiday of Easter, Cirillo framed the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a symbol of light triumphing over darkness, invoking it as a metaphor for South Sudan’s long struggle for justice and freedom.
South Sudan will rise again, not through empty promises or broken accords but through a genuine liberation
“Easter teaches us that from death comes life, from despair, hope and deliverance,” Cirillo said. “South Sudan will rise again, not through empty promises or broken accords but through a genuine liberation.”
The message sharply criticised the government led by President Salva Kiir, denouncing it for perpetuating suffering through repression, systematic violence and failure to implement peace agreements.
“The country remains trapped in cycles of suffering, not by fate but by the hands of a corrupt and failed regime,” he said, alleging widespread atrocities against civilians by government-aligned forces.
These crimes are not isolated, but coordinated, systematic and designed to silence dissent.
Cirillo also addressed recent developments within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), stating that the arrest of its chairman, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, confirms the regime’s ongoing plot to dismantle the peace process.
“The chaos is a deliberate strategy by the regime to destroy any partnership in governance,” Cirillo declared. “The 2018 agreement has been systematically dismantled… the Kiir regime never intended to implement it.”
The NAS leader reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to establishing a democratic, federal South Sudan, and called for a “genuine, comprehensive, and inclusive dialogue” among all political actors to resolve the country’s long-standing conflicts.
In a rallying call to opposition groups and the South Sudanese people, Cirillo urged unity and perseverance.
To our people, we say: do not lose hope. The suffering we endure today will one day be a story of our love and sacrifice for freedom, justice and a dignified life
He concluded his message with a call for renewed courage and determination. “Christ is risen, and so will South Sudan.”
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