Bishop Edwardo Hiiboro Applauds US Government for Standing with South Sudan all through

 The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, His Lordship, Barani Edwardo Hiiboro has expressed immense gratitude to the American government through USAID for supporting South Sudan in various development since the country got its independence to date.

 During his meeting with USAID’s new Head of Missions, Mr. Haven Cruz in Juba Bishop Hiiboro said that the Republic of South Sudan has received tremendous support from the American people, government, and the leadership of the United States of America.

 “During all the negotiations that led to South Sudan getting its independence, we got substantial support from the government of the United States. And so far they have continued to journey with us. When our country went into conflict, they have always been there to help, to advise, and have been encouraging the country to go work towards achieving lasting peace,” Bishop Hiiboro Expressed.

 He explained that the American Embassy in Juba has been very instrumental in financially supporting various activities and programs of the youth throughout the country. In addition, humanitarian support from the USA has been huge through the interventions of USAID.

 “We have received huge financial backing for the development activities within the Republic of South Sudan and other interactions, so we felt it necessary to go and meet the new Head of Missions and some of the staff of the United States of American Government at their Embassy here in Juba. I went with the former governor of Gbudue State, and we were able to deliberate on how to engage much more during this period,” the Bishop explained.

 He mentioned that the one thing they celebrate with USAID is the program of recovery and resilience within the Republic of South Sudan and in Western Equatoria. This program came up in Western Equatoria through the Interfaith Council for Peace Initiatives which Bishop Hiiboro is the chairperson.

 “Through this, we were able to make peace with a great number of rebels who went to the bush from our area. We approached the government and asked how we could be involved to help bring back these young people from the bush. With the government’s blessing and support, we were able to bring out of the bush hundreds of young men and women who had taken the guns against the government and we made peace between them,” Bishop explained adding that the initiative actually involved going to the bush to meet with these young people and pleading with them to abandon what they were doing in the bush and to come back home.

“This was a success and when we had stabilized the whole area and there were no more shootings, no more war then we the interfaith together with the interim government, decided to invite all the governors who are neighboring Western Equatoria State and we had a big conference of the governors which eventually gave birth to this idea of resilience and recovery. So many of the partners came and said that since we had succeeded in bringing peace to our area, they were going to bring development.”

 Bishop Hiiboro said that the support which came from international communities was a big relief since they were faced with a nightmare of what they were going to do with the hundreds of young people from the bush, who also included women and children. Their worry was that failure to engage these young people meant that they will go back to the bush.

 He further expressed that the recovery and resilience program has brought in a lot of interventions and services, for instance, feeder roads have been opened, women's centers established, marketplaces established in addition to enhancement of youth’s activities among others.

 He further explained that following an agreement, the church and other members of the community are in charge of this program and not the government. This is an assurance that despite the changes within the government in the area, the recovery and resilience program remains firm.

 “We want this program to continue, therefore, I am throwing myself behind it and the former governor of Gbudue, Honorable Daniel Badagbu who actually is more convinced about the program continues to champion for its success.”

 Bishop Hiiboro explained that the meeting with the new Head of Mission for USAID was very fruitful and he, Mr. Cruz, assured them that like his predecessors, he is going to move on with the program and make sure that the dreams and mission of the founding members for this resilience and recovery program do not go to waste.

By Rurugene Team