SOUTH SUDAN: Inter-faith Committee Seek Solution with State Government on Tombura Conflict
Ginaba Lino
The Inter-faith Council for Peace Initiative in Western Equatoria State has joined hands together with State government to work towards peace and stop the violence in Tombura County
During a one-day meeting which took place in July 28, 2021 in Yambio, the chairperson of inter-Church council, Samuel Peni the bishop of Episcopal Church internal Provence in Western Equatoria stressed that they have committed to join hands together with the government at State level to look for the solution towards the conflict in Tombura County
“Today we are pleased for the great meeting that we have been able to have here at the State headquarters. We are grateful because of the Unity that the churches have with the government. The churches and government serve the same community and working together is a great progress; for us meeting here today to discuss the challenges and ways which we can work and address the conflict in Tombura has been a great thing and we pray that God will bless what we discussed and bring peace to Tombura county and Western Equatoria in general”.
Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kusala of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura Yambio and chairperson of the Council stated that they will work together with Government at the State level to find solutions to the ongoing violence in Tombura.
“We have been blessed as a family of this State, the Inter-faith together with our State government, the Governor, his Deputy, and all the Cabinet. We have come here as a family to look at things that are disturbing us especially the issue of insecurity, to talk about peace. Peace is a commodity that we cannot do it as individuals but together. It’s a problem that has come to us, to our communities, to our country and so we cannot do it as individuals but together as the faith community and our government,” he said.
Bishop Hiiboro continued saying that they have highlighted on many of things, including the process of making the peace work, the process of working together and also the process on how they can join hands to support the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The State Governor Lt. General Alfred Futuyo gave a go ahead for the Inter-faith council to go ahead and evaluate as the people of Tombura County prepare for a peace conference
Alfred says, the government will provide security as the Inter-faith go for evaluation meeting next week
“I thank the almighty God for today has been a big day for us because all the cabinet members of this State and church leaders came together and have agreed on what we can do to solve the violence in Tombura County not Tombura alone – all issues which is bringing insecurity to the State.”
He calls on social media users not to take the advantage and start spreading inaccurate information to the society.
He added that the continuous conflict which is happening in Tombura County is because of the misinformation going on in social media.
According to the Governor, the County is now ten (10) days calm without any gunshot after the State government deployed security forces to the area.
