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“Very alarming”: Catholic Bishop on Crimes in South Sudan, Urges Action

Bishop Mathew Remijio Adam of Wau Diocese in South Sudan. Credit: AMECEA

Bishop Mathew Remijio Adam of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese has described crime levels in the East-Central African nation as “very alarming”, and advocated for efforts towards lasting peace. 

In a July 14 report that the Catholic Radio Network (CRN) published, Bishop Remijio also urges parties in South Sudan conflict to facilitate the realization of unity in the country.

“South Sudan is not yet fully at peace because other areas in the country still experience killings, and (rape), which is very alarming,” he says.

The South Sudanese member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) who was addressing journalists at Wau airport after he had arrived from Juba is quoted in the report as saying, “There is unrest in some areas in the country despite the fact that major towns are enjoying calm.”

“We cannot pretend to say we who are in Juba or Wau are having peace while there is instability in other parts,” the 51-year-old Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of Wau Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in January 2021 further says.

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He goes on to appeal to parties in the South Sudan conflict to intensify efforts to implement the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“Parties to the revitalized agreement should double their efforts to implement the accord in order to bring peace to the people,” the Catholic Church leader is quoted as saying the CRN July 14 report.

He challenges South Sudanese to participate in the search for lasting peace in the world’s youngest nation that gained Independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011.

Kerbino Kuel Deng is a South Sudanese journalist who is passionate about Church communication. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.