In the wake of an attack last week on a Catholic church in South Sudan that left one person dead and another injured, the local bishop has called the carnage “horrific” and “deeply heartbreaking”. Source: Crux.
“This act of violence is deeply heartbreaking and reprehensible,” Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala, of South Sudan’s Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, said.
On December 10, unidentified gunmen stormed St Mary Help of Christians church, around which a displaced persons camp has developed, and opened fire indiscriminately, killing one victim, identified as James Undo, and injuring an unnamed woman.
“This violence is unjustifiable and must never happen again,” Bishop Hiiboro said in a statement. “I call on those responsible to repent, seek forgiveness from God, and turn away from violence. The path of peace is the only way forward.”
He said attacks on places of worship are obviously at variance with international humanitarian law.
“A church, mosque, hospital, school, or embassy should always be places of refuge, peace, and safety,” Bishop Hiiboro said.
“These sacred spaces are meant to protect the innocent, not to be turned into battlegrounds. The attack on such a holy place is an affront to humanity and a gross violation of basic human dignity,” he said.
Bishop Hiiboro called on those responsible for the violence to repent and embrace the path of peace, insisting that peace is the only viable pathway for the region.
He urged the South Sudanese government to protect the vulnerable population as violence continues to escalate in the world’s newest country.
“The situation in Tombura has spiralled out of control,” Bishop Hiiboro noted.
“The government must restore order and ensure the safety of its citizens, especially those who have already lost so much. I ask, where is the President of South Sudan?
“Has he heard the cries of the people of Tombura? For three years, violence has plagued this region, and yet there seems to be no action or response from the highest office in the land.”
Among other things, the area around Tombura has been a focus for the “Lord’s Resistance Army,” an armed faction founded in 1987 amid tensions in Uganda, which has become a regional presence, often accused of brutality and terrorism.
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Bishop condemns assault on Catholic church in South Sudan (By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux)
