SOUTH SUDAN: “We Must Adapt in Collecting Our Own Data As a Church, Stop Relying on UN,” Bishop Hiiboro Tells JPC
Ginaba Lino
“We must adapt in collecting our own data as the Church and stop relying on the UN,” Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro told participants at the National Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) workshop, stressing the need for the Church to build an independent and reliable system of documenting community incidents.
His remarks set the tone for the two-day meeting, organized by the National JPC of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, with support from Misereor, held on 19 to 20 November 2025, aimed at assessing the evolving conflict and peace dynamics in both countries.
The workshop brought together diocesan Justice and Peace coordinators, religious sisters, and partners to craft a coordinated roadmap for future faith-based peacebuilding.
Bishop Hiiboro, who oversees the Commission, urged participants to strengthen documentation and reporting mechanisms across dioceses, insisting that accurate, parish-level data is essential for understanding trends in violence and measuring progress.
He encouraged coordinators to keep daily diaries capturing shootings, disappearances, and other security concerns, which can then be compiled monthly to form a dependable national picture. “If we all record what happens in our parishes, we will have a true record of the violence happening and its successes,” he said.
The Bishop further emphasized unity and internal capacity, noting that enhanced coordination would allow dioceses to support one another during crises rather than seeking external expertise. “When conflict erupts, we should be able to call someone from another diocese to help their brothers,” he added.
Assuring the participants of his prayers and solidarity, Bishop Hiiboro expressed confidence that “good things will happen along your way.”
In his closing remarks, National JPC Coordinator Fr. John Opi praised the bishops for strengthening diocesan peace structures and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to proactive peacebuilding.
He called on coordinators to be “ambassadors of truth” and “builders of unity,” noting that the new strategy shifts the Church from reactive responses to proactive leadership.
Representing Misereor, Uwe Bergmeier, head of Dialogue and Partnership Service for South Sudan, described the workshop as a significant step toward reviving a long-stalled national coordination mechanism. He recalled previous attempts since 2017 that struggled to establish a functional structure, leaving diocesan efforts fragmented. “These two days mark a benchmark,” he said, calling the renewed commission a promising development.
Bergmeier outlined four priority themes identified by coordinators: community violence, civic awareness, natural disasters, and displacement, and encouraged them to convert their framework into clear, result-oriented proposals that reflect measurable impact.
Speaking on behalf of the coordinators, Mr. James Alau expressed gratitude to the national office, Misereor, and facilitators for what he called a “timely and unifying” workshop.
He noted that the gathering strengthened bonds among coordinators who often work in isolation and urged renewed collaboration, including the reactivation of parish-level Justice and Peace committees.
He also stressed the essential participation of women and youth in sustaining peace. “We are not alone; we have each other to lean on as we carry this mission forward,” he said.
