SOUTH SUDAN: Church Leaders Condemn Escalating Violence in Western Equatoria State, Call for Immediate Stop
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA and Ginaba Lino
Church leaders in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State have condemned the escalating violence which is ongoing in the region calling on citizens to immediately stop the inhuman acts causing more sufferings to the people and “deepening the crisis.”
“The continued and escalating violence in Western Equatoria State particularly in Tombura County is of grave concern,” Church leaders voiced their concern in a communiqué published Monday, July 19, adding that, “We will never keep silent and go mute as our faithful people are subjected to violence, which is harming their very sense of life.”
“The rapid increase and expansion of the breakdown of law and order, the violence of all types changing from worse to worst every hour in Tombura town, the headquarter are appalling,” the leaders lament, warning that, “Violence always begets more violence (and) violence causes immediate and long-term suffering to all and will not address the pertinent issues that need to be urgently addressed in this country.”
The violence which erupted last month has led to burning of people’s property, killings, gun violence, looting, and other destructions which the faith leaders including the Chairperson of Interfaith Council for Peace Initiative, Western Equatoria State Bishop Barani Eduardo Hilboro of Tombura-Yambio Diocese say, “will not bring about change.”
In their Monday statement, the Faith leaders raise concerns on the where about of various levels of South Sudan’s government, “when communities turn harmful weapons against themselves,” wondering “what the hidden truth in the senseless ongoing violence.”
“Violence causes immediate and long-term suffering to all and will not address the pertinent issues that need to be urgently addressed in this country,” reads an excerpt of the statement as the concerned bodies appeal, “We urge those involved in violence to stop immediately. It is our own sisters and brothers that we are harming, not the elites or political tricksters who live securely and are shielded from violence and destruction. They are not affected; they do not suffer. We appeal to you: stop the violence for your own sakes!”
According to the Church leaders, South Sudan has long been on “a precipice,” and what the people are witnessing “is symptomatic of a number of factors that cannot be ignored,” including, “The country’s tragic history, endemic corruption, political infighting, moral decay, disregard for the law, and unfavorable economic conditions, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
To end the escalating violence, the faith group representatives appealed to various actors including politicians and religious leaders to stop acts that keep worsening the situation and work towards addressing the root cause of the crisis.
“Stop using this crisis to manipulate people by spewing irresponsible comments and incitements in the media and on social media,” Church leaders warn Politicians from all persuasions and cautions, “You are not showing leadership by being politically expedient and this incitement must be condemned.”
They reminded the security organs their moral responsibility to monitor those inciting people on social media or all other forms and hold accountable all the victims.
They further asked the government to deal with corruption decisively noting that, “South Sudanese are tired of empty promises (and) corruption has to be stamped out since it is one of the strong ingredients in the current crisis.”
Additionally they said, “The high levels of humanitarian catastrophes, poverty, inequality, unemployment are not “addressed” and need to be, “acted upon in a concrete manner.”
In their observation, the Church leaders disclosed, “There is a return to the rule of law and right processes respected that is the Constitution, and the judicial system.”
Addressing Religious leaders in their Monday statement they said, “We, Religious leaders are duty-bound to address our followers and offer direction in this time of crisis.”
In conclusion they noted that the peace or liberty of all is threatened if South Sudan responds to the massive challenges faced on the current violent trajectory.
“Our hard-fought-for freedom is at stake and the civil anarchy and chaos must end,” they said adding that “serious problems afflict us, this is undeniable, but violence will never move us forward.”
