SOUTH SUDAN: “It’s Time to Help South Sudan Stand Up and Walk,” Jesuit Cleric Speaks on Good Neighbourliness
Solidarity with South Sudan
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
A priest of the Religious Order of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) during a zoom session on Tuesday, November 10, emphasized that being a good neighbor to the world’s youngest nation, there is need to offer support to the country to once again “stand up and walk.”
“We know that South Sudan was “beaten, stripped and left half-dead” by the impact of over fifty years of violent conflict which crippled key economic, social and political structures in the country,” Fr Augostine Edan Ekeno disclosed during the session and continued, “In spite of all these challenges, the young nation is hopeful for a just future for all through the creativity and commitment of its people, and the support and solidarity of the rest of the world.”
To be a good neighbor to the country, Fr. Ekeno said, the nation needs support and accompaniment that can enhance the people’s capacity to develop her fullest potential.”
Speaking to the theme, “South Sudan is “stripped and beaten: The role of a good neighbour,” Fr. Ekeno the Director of Multi-Educational and Agricultural Jesuit Institute of South Sudan (MAJIS) highlighted that the country “has experienced disastrous civil wars, inter-communal conflicts and violence of unimaginable proportions since 1952” including revenge killings which target educated working class men with the intention to inflict the deepest pain on the relatives or members of the clan.”
Talking about dialogue of mercy while addressing 97 participants from across the globe, the cleric posed a question on what has robbed, beaten and stripped South Sudan and disclosed, “The inexplicable impacts of over 50 years have stripped and robbed South Sudan of some political, economic, and social structures needed by any country to grow.”
He added, “Millions of men, women and children have lost their lives during these wars, people who could have played a key role in building the young nation.”
Narrating what the Jesuits and Jesuit collaborators working in South Sudan are doing in relation to dialogue of action on how to support and accompany South Sudan, Fr. Ekeno who also serves as parish priest of St. Teresa parish in the Diocese of Rumbek said, “At the heart of our mission is a genuine friendship, support and accompaniment that provides beneficiaries with opportunities that can expand their imagination to realize possibilities of a better life beyond the cow and gun culture.”
He underscored that formation of Government of National Unity has brought stability and a great sign of hope and desire for peace and development among the people. At the same time, there is increasing number of girls going to school which is a great shift considering the cultural perception that girls are a source of wealth for their families.
Fr Ekeno concluded, “Building a just future for all can be achieved by our support that can enhance people’s capacity to exploit their potentials by helping the vulnerable and the disadvantaged to stand up and walk without being dependent on others.”
