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Church Committed to Fostering “peace, stability” in South Sudan’s Equatoria State: Bishop

Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo of South Sudan's Yei Diocese. Credit: Courtesy Photo

The Catholic Church is committed to fostering “peace and stability” in South Sudan’s Equatoria State, Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo of the country’s Catholic Diocese of Yei has said.

Addressing journalists at the Catholic Secretariat in Juba on Tuesday, October, 4, Bishop Lodiong expressed his awareness of the people’s desire for peace and the church’s readiness to partner with the South Sudanese government to achieve this desire.

“The Church is committed to supporting government efforts towards consolidation of lasting peace and stability in Equatoria State,” the South Sudanese said.

He added, “The Church is ready to work with the government and the people of Central Equatoria State to bring peace and reconciliation in all the parts of the State because our people want to enjoy peace and freedom.” 

“Our people have suffered enough and they are going through difficult times at the places where they are staying,” the Bishop of Yei Diocese that borders Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said, making reference to his pastoral visits to South Sudanese refugees in the two countries.

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He added, “My mission of touring and visiting the refugees in the neighboring countries was to spread the Gospel of Christ.”

“I went to visit the refugees where they are to share the word of God with them because they are our people and we need to be with them,” Bishop Lodiong said, and added, “This is in fulfillment of the Church pledge to contribute to peace, reconciliation, healing and holistic development across the State.”

“We also need them to stay in peace among themselves until they will return to their places,” the South Sudanese Bishop in reference to refugees in camps located in Uganda and DRC.

He added, “I have also visited them to see their situation where they are because such people normally live in a difficult situation.”

The 51-year-old Catholic Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry on May 15 underscored the need for spiritual solidarity with the suffering South Sudanese, saying, “We will be able to convince our people to have peace in their hearts through prayers.” 

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He appealed to the leadership of Equatoria State to make available essential facilities and renovate the dilapidated infrastructure to facilitate the return and reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees.

“I am appealing to the State Government to rehabilitate facilities like schools, healthcare centers and road network to expedite the return program of those still in refuge and displacement camps,” Bishop Lodiong told journalists at the Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat in Juba on October 4.

The South Sudanese Catholic Bishop appealed for dialogue in line with the Rome Peace Initiative, saying, “We are calling on all armed holdout groups to denounce violence and opt for dialogue as the only peaceful way to settle the prevailing political differences.”

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.