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Catholic Archbishop Urges Youth to Promote “peace, togetherness” in South Sudanese State

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu of South Sudan's Juba Archdiocese. Credit: Courtesy Photo

The Catholic Archbishop of Juba in South Sudan has urged young people in the country’s Eastern Equatoria State to promote peace and togetherness amid reported cases of violent conflicts. 

Addressing himself to the youth during the Monday, April 25 centenary celebration of St. Theresa of the child Jesus Isohe Parish of Torit Diocese, Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin said promoting peace will encourage the neighboring communities to desist from violent conflicts. 

The Local Ordinary of Juba Archdiocese who doubles as the Apostolic Administrator of Torit Diocese said while communities are experiencing vices such as “stealing property and killing … Youth are supposed to be the one promoting peace and togetherness”.

“God doesn’t tell you to steal and kill; we don’t want to, even if you go a long distance to steal, God will be on your neck,” Archbishop Ameyu said.

The South Sudanese Catholic Archbishop further cautioned the youth against stealing saying,  “Everyone has right towards his or her property. That is why we cannot support Monyie-Mijji stealing and killing people; so we don’t want this problem.”

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On March 21, local authorities in Eastern Equatoria State confirmed that seven people had been killed and hundreds of villagers displaced when rustlers clashed with cattle herders in the Owinykibul area of Magwi County.

Speaking at the fundraising program for the renovation of All Saints Parish Church of Juba Archdiocese, Archbishop Ameyu said the reported deadly conflict is the “work of the devil” who wants to divide the people of South Sudan along ethnic and regional lines.

In his April 25 address to young people at St. Theresa of the child Jesus Isohe Parish, the Catholic Archbishop urged the youth to promote peace by “refraining from criminal activities.”  

He added, “God will hold every human being accountable for the sin he or she committed.”

“I tell you my people in Lobira, Haforiere, Hiyala, Lofi, Olianga, Oguruny, and Ilieu that …don’t test God several times because he will also take and put you on fire because you killed someone,” the 58-year-old Catholic Church leader added. 

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He encouraged the population to make use of the resources in the State rather than causing conflicts that tarnish the image of their State. 

“We in Eastern Equatoria here, we don’t want to spoil our State,” Archbishop Ameyu said, adding that South Sudanese had already “shed enough blood” in previous conflicts, including during “Anyanya one war”.

He went on to pose, “Resources like gold at our mountains, who do we want to benefit from?”

“We should not kill each other, we went for peace dialogue at Lopit, Iboni, Ibahure, even up to camp 15, because we want you to stay in peace,” the South Sudanese Archbishop said April 25.

Patrick Juma Wani is a South Sudanese journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. Patrick holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Makerere Institute for Social Development (MISD) in Uganda. He has over 7 years of extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of media, advocacy, communication and multimedia strategy and operations, with an excellent track record of editorial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder outreach. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.