SOUTH SUDAN: Bishop Erkolano Asks AMECEA to Continue Praying for Peace in South Sudan
Rt. Rev. Erkolano Lodu Tombe, Bishop of Yei Diocese
Rt Rev. Erkolano Lodu Tombe, Catholic Bishop of Yei has asked the AMECEA Bishops, clergy and people of God in the region to continue praying for lasting peace in South Sudan.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News via phone, Bishop Tombe said that South Sudan has experienced tremendous achievement in terms of peace, especially the recent signing of peace agreement.
“The AMECEA Bishops have walked with us through prayers and we are indeed grateful. Additionally, some of the AMECEA Countries’ Government have been very instrumental in helping the Government of South Sudan and the Opposition leaders to come to sign this peace agreement. These countries include Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, and we are very grateful for their contribution,” Bishop Tombe said.
“What we need most now since the peace agreement has been signed is prayers so that the implementation is completed to stop to the bloodshed and create a lasting peace for the suffering people of South Sudan,” he added.
According to Bishop Tombe, the situation on the ground since the signing of peace agreement between the government and the opposition leaders in August is that there is silence of the gun in many parts of country. This, he testified, has made many people happy and hopeful. However, he observed that some factions of the rebels did not sign the agreement and that in some places, violence has continued to erupt.
“In some places here and there, once in a while there is the breaking of this agreement and violence still continues; but this is something that could be happening in any part of the world; we have to accept the fact that there is no agreement in any part of the world which is perfect and South Sudan is no exception. However, we are hopeful that the implementation will take place so that war stops completely to give people a chance to reconstruct their lives,” Bishop Tombe said.
He further told AMECEA Online News that together with other religious leaders in Yei, they requested for a formal written consent from the Government to allow them to go and meet with the rebels who are still in the bush and did not sign the peace agreement, in order to engage them in dialogue and hear their concerns and report back to Government and to the people. Unfortunately, the request is yet to be granted.
“We have not been given that formal written consent. However, they have told us that we are free to go. This for us is not enough; we need something written not just the word of mouth because without the written consent, our security is not guaranteed,” he explained.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
