Bishop Hiiboro Returns to South Sudan, Meets Netherland’s Ambassador in Juba and Discusses Ways of Collaborations

His Lordship Barani, Edwardo Hiiboro, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio fell sick in February, this year and had to be flown to Nairobi, Kenya for urgent treatment and recovered; however, the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic found him in Nairobi and kept him there for the last seven month. He landed back in the capital of South Sudan Juba on Friday, September 4.

 Bishop Hiiboro had a number of meetings with Partners and Collaborators in Juba, among them, the New Netherlands Ambassador to South Sudan, Mr. Jelte Van Wierenk whom the Bishop personally visited on Tuesday, September 7.

 The Netherlands government has a history of working together with the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio and the government of Western Equatoria State with which they have had a number of successful projects in the past.

 “My meeting with you is to strengthen our collaboration and to underline the importance and role that the Dutch government is playing in our country,” Bishop Hiiboro said.

 He explained that Western Equatoria State had a very big conflict that forced most young men and women to go to the bush and fight the government resulting to all kinds of bad things happening.

 “I personally witnessed what happened and together with other religious leaders went to the president H.E. Salva Kiir and pleaded with him not to fight these young people, because we were convinced that we can still persuade them to come out from the bush.” As such, the Bishop and the Government of former Gbudue State under the leadership of Hon. Badagbu managed to bring the young people from the bush.

 Bishop Hiiboro explained that the Dutch government was among the first to donate support for these young men, women, and children who came from the bush, and as such, the Resilience and Recovery project was born to support the victims of conflict. The project has since supported many young women and men.

 Bishop Hiiboro pointed out that unfortunately, the Resilience and Recovery program has only been limited to only the old Gbudue State, but there is Mundri, Maridi, and Tombura, which are parts of Western Equatoria. He said that it would be good to expand the program to all other parts of Western Equatoria State where the diocese also expands as much.

 Ambassador Van Wieren on his part commended the Bishop for the services the Church is rendering to the people of South Sudan. He assured him of his personal intention to keep the relationship between South Sudan and the Netherlands strong as long as he will be around and would offer support wherever possible especially for programs that fall under their priority lists such as food, water, and security.

 “We do not have a lot of financial possibilities anymore, owing to the effects of COVID 19, which has affected our economy. Our development budgets are tied to national income. So when the economy goes down, the budget certainly becomes affected." Ambassador Van Wieren said adding that as a result, the Dutch government has cut programs of funding instead of increasing because the financial possibilities are limited.

 He however assured the Bishop that as they are already engaged with South Sudan and will continue to do so especially in areas of their priority.

 “Partnering with you and the Church and trying to make peace in the area is something that we are interested in,” the Ambassador said.

 Bishop Hiiboro assured him that the Catholic Church in Western Equatoria does not work in isolation but rather collectively with other religions in the area including Islam.

By George Kparabatiko