Call for Peace in Tombura by Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro

When the news of what has been happening reached my ears, my heart became sorrowful. Therefore, as the Catholic Bishop of this place, I cannot keep quiet, I know this is not rumors; I have seen pictures of the aftermath of this violence; most of my parishes in the area have become homes to people who have fled from their homes for safety. Other churches and schools are housing families. Hospitals are swarmed with injured people; the situation is painful.

I am aware that these issues that have now resulted in violent conflicts we are currently witnessing in Tombura County have been there for some time, and I have spoken about them, and you people have heard me many times, asking for understanding, asking for community interactions and discussions and even requesting for suggestions on how we could solve the issues. I can only repeat what I have said before that fighting and violence of any nature cannot bring about peace, war does not bring peace instead it crashes life, destroys life, disputes people’s lives, and leaves long term wounds in the hearts of the people and in the life of any given community.

I have always spoken to you my dear brothers and sisters that if ever you are angry about certain situations in the community; if you are not happy with the way certain things in the community are done; we are here and are able to sit down and talk and get the whole thing resolved. I am therefore appealing to you today to stop this violence. Let all those who are involved and who have the power to stop it do so please because this violence is not necessary, it is not needed.

We all belong to the Republic of South Sudan and are therefore liable for protection by the government structures. It, therefore, does not make sense that people from a certain region within the Republic of South Sudan can begin fighting and killing each other under the watch of the government. It is high time that the government took charge and bring about order and an end to this senseless fighting and killing.

Despite the fact that the country is still undergoing restructuring especially on its major policies and systems, when emergency cases such as this arise, it is important that the relevant government authorities take over and bring about the order so as to prevent loss of human life. I am therefore requesting my government, begging and appealing that please use the power at your disposal to stop the violence in Tombura.

This violence if not contained has the potential to escalate into huge loss of human life as well as the destruction of property and harmony in the affected areas. We already have enough of that all over the country, therefore, I am requesting and asking, and begging that make effort to stop this violence. I am aware that the structure of the government is in place especially where security issues are concerned, please do the necessary to salvage the situation.

I am also appealing to the state government; please do not stand by and watch as things get out of hand; kindly please mobilize and use the resources you have to help stop the violence in Tombura. And to all people in the area, I beg you, I implore you, I encourage you to stand by one another and resist this evil. Do not harbor the spirit of revenge by blowing the current issues out of proportion; let us contain it, there is no need to prolong this. And to all young people, and to all of us who come from the area, let us put effort to make sure that this violence stops. All of us, all the intellectuals, all the elders, all the youths, all the members of our communities and our families, the women and men; let all of us mobilize our efforts to and get this problem fixed.

Do not sit somewhere and say that the problem belongs to other people and that you will not get involved; the situation sure calls for our collective responsibility. I am appealing to civil societies, please make effort so that we stop this conflict in Tambura.

I am also appealing for support to those who have been affected by this violence; we are all

aware that conflicts and violence always bring about insecurity among people, destruction of properties, and unwarranted suffering among the affected people. As it is now in Tombura County, so many people have been displaced and already there is a humanitarian crisis. I am therefore calling upon all of us to contribute and see how we can take care of the affected families. As it is now, the rainy season is here with us and even though there is never a better time to experience such an unfortunate occurrence, it is an extremely painful and harsh time to find oneself and family displaced from the comfort of their homes. I am therefore appealing to the international bodies, the international NGOs and all the CBOs, and all of us to make effort to provide shelter, food, and any other necessary requirements for the affected families.

With this again I want to assure the population and all of us that in the church we will continue to pray and remain committed to go down to Tombura and get this problem solved. As the church, we shall be moving there as soon as possible to sit down with the people and see how we can be able to resolve the situation. I request all my parishes wherever you are, the priests and the religious, and all our institutions to try as much as possible to reach out to the affected families. Open your doors and whatever you can, please provide.

To the media and specifically the social media which has the power to fuel this conflict, please communicate things that can bring peace, send messages that can unite people, send messages that can bring healing to these people who are already suffering. I request all users of social media forums, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and others, please let us use these forums to see how we can build peace in this area.

So be sure of my prayer, may God bless you all, and may we always trust what our Lord Jesus Christ had given us in the Gospel of Matthew 5:9 which says “Blessed are the peacemakers and they will be called the sons and daughters of God.” let us work for peace. Thank you and God bless each and every one of you and may He grant eternal rest to all those who have lost their lives in this violence, consolation to their grieving families, and energy to all of us to be united during this difficult moment in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Barani Eduardo Hiiboro,

Catholic Bishop of Tombura-Yambio