A Suspect in South Sudan Bishop-elect’s Shooting Lobbied for “Bishop’s position”: Witness

The next court session has been scheduled to take place on February 21. 

Mons. Carlassare who has since recovered was shot in both legs during the early hours of 26 April 2021. 

The Italian-born member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) received initial treatment at the health facility under the auspices of Doctors with Africa CUAMM in Rumbek and later airlifted to Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, where he was admitted at The Nairobi Hospital.

Earlier this month, Justice Alexander Sebur Subek told journalists in Juba that one of the suspects whom he identified as “accused number five” had “confessed that he was the one who shot the Bishop.”

Last week, making reference to Fr. Mathiang, another witness said that three suspects in the case were closely related with one of their co-accused.

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The witness who expressed his familiarity with three suspects during the February 9 court session said that while one frequented the Fathers’ residence at Holy Family Cathedral Parish of Rumbek Diocese, the other two visited Fr. Mathiang “as friends and relatives do.”

“I know three of these six accused suspects; one used to drive Fr. Mathiang’s car in and out of the compound, and the other two (came) for visit(s) as friends and relatives do,” the witness, identified as Luka Dor Agor, said about suspects in the shooting of Mons. Carlassare.

In his testimony during the February 9 court session, Fr. Andrea recalled the physical looks of two gunmen who stormed the Fathers’ residence in search of the Bishop-elect saying, “One was tall and one was short and thin; both covered their faces with clothes and one was wearing army-like clothes.”

Rumbek Diocese became vacant in July 2011 following the sudden death of Bishop Caesar Mazzolari. The Comboni Missionary Bishop collapsed during the celebration of Holy Eucharist on the morning of 16 July 2011, one week after South Sudan’s independence. He was confirmed dead at Rumbek State Hospital that morning.

Fr. Fernando Colombo, a member of the Comboni Missionaries, governed the South Sudanese Diocese as Diocesan Administrator until 27 December 2013, when Fernando Cardinal Filoni, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, appointed Fr. Mathiang Diocesan Coordinator.

The Diocese of Rumbek is currently under the leadership of Bishop Matthew Remijio of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.