“The Bishop of Tombura-Yambio Diocese is hurt in the heart when he learnt about the incident that happened when external nomadic pastoralists kill innocent civilians with guns,” adding that the visit was under the directive of Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala.
Fr. Mbikoyo is quoted as saying, “The Bishop is aware that you are here in the hospital that is why he directs our office to bring for you the donation in front of you to support you as you are hospitalized”
In the report, a victim of the attack is quoted recounting his experience, saying, “About 3:00PM in April my house was stormed by bullets and flames by nomadic Ambororo pastoralists who are coming from foreign countries who are invading some parts of South Sudan in Western Equatoria State.”
The attackers “sprayed bullets at the entire family members”, Simon Eduard recalled the attack during which he was shot in the arm.
The attack left two women “killed instantly and their bodies were thrown into the houses which were set on fire and burnt into ashes,” Mr. Eduard is quoted as saying, adding, “Two other women sustained fractured legs and one boy too fractured by the bullets and those with minor injuries.”
“Our lives after the incident remained vulnerable and poor because all our belongings and some members of our community had been totally destroyed,” he says.
Last year, religious leaders serving in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State condemned “in the strongest terms possible” the violence between members of the Azande and Balanda communities in Tombura County, a territory covered by the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio.
In their collective statement dated 24 June 2021, the religious leaders described the tribal clashes as “disheartening” and called on members of the warring tribes to put an end to the “senseless conflict.”
“It is very disheartening to see that the once peaceful communities are turning against each other,” they said.
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.
