Yaounde, Cameroon – Bishop Edward Hiboro Kusala of Tombura Yambio in South Sudan has identified the country’s ethnic and political divisions as being at the heart of the disappearance of Father Luke Yugu and his driver Michael Gbeko. .
The two went missing on April 27 after leaving Nagero diocese for a motorbike trip to another diocese in Western Equatoria state.
Mr. Hiibolo told Mr. Cracks the circumstances of the kidnapping. Ethnic violence has broken out in Tombura County, located in Western Equatoria State (WES), between two previously peaceful groups, the Azande and the Baranda.
Violent clashes erupted in 2021, leaving hundreds dead, property destroyed and thousands displaced.
Hiibolo said South Sudan’s two main political parties, the SPLM-IG led by President Salva Kiir and the SPLM-IO led by Vice President Riek Machar, follow similar ethnic lines.
SPLM-IO was given control of the WES, including Tonbura District.
Political factions in both countries accuse each other of provoking deadly ethnic conflict.
In the wake of the violence, an agreement was reached that both sides would move their troops to detention camps, where they would be trained and integrated into the unified South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
Militia groups supporting Mr. Kiir complied, but others did not. In recent weeks, new ethnic violence has broken out in Tonbura County.
Bishop suggests that the Baranda SPLMO-IO may have kidnapped the priest after the previous kidnapping of a Baranda police officer.
Below are excerpts from the interview…
core: In what circumstances did the priest do this? Are Luke Hugues and driver Michael Gbeko missing?
Hiboro: The SPLM-IO controls the road between Tombra and Nagero counties where the kidnapped priest and his driver work.
The priest and his driver, Baranda police officer Ferdinand Minisare, went missing while riding their motorbikes to Sauce Yubu, a town in Tambura district, before being kidnapped.
After the disappearance of the policeman, some members of the Baranda community promised revenge against Azande, who had kidnapped and killed the Baranda policeman. It was shortly after the call for revenge that a priest and his driver from the Azande tribe were kidnapped in the SPLM-IO controlled area on their way from Nagero District to Tambura District.
Priests serve the Christian community, mainly in Balanda, and are widely loved by both ethnic groups. He has dedicated his life to finding peace between his two peoples and has served the displaced people of both communities. He has dedicated his efforts towards re-establishing peaceful coexistence among all peoples of the region.
What is the mood in South Sudan, especially among Christians, following the priest’s disappearance?
Since the beginning of ethnic violence, the church has been seen as a source of moral support and security for both ethnic groups.
When violence breaks out in the community, civilians from both sides take refuge in churches. The church gives them spiritual support and works with other charities to meet their needs. The Church has also led efforts for reconciliation and lasting peace in larger communities and nations. In addition to that, the church provides education and health services to all people in the country.
As a result, the Church gained high respect among all believers, including non-Catholics, the government, and domestic opposition groups. That is why, when deciding to travel, the priest and his driver did not consider the risks involved, as they always do for drivers.
Because clergy and the church play such an important role in communities and countries, it was unimaginable for lay people, clergy, and ordinary people that clergy would become targets of violence.
Therefore, this incident shocked the whole diocese and the whole country. Everyone wants to know what happened to the priest and driver, where they are and what their fate was. People continue to fast and pray for a safe return. In summary, everyone is in a state of shock. This is the first time a priest has been targeted in this way in the diocese.
What are the church and authorities doing to find the missing priest and his driver?
Since the priest and his driver were kidnapped, the church has taken several steps to find the missing priest and his driver.
The government called on authorities in writing to act urgently to find the priest, including calling for the immediate deployment of government forces to stop the ethnic violence and the disarmament of all those involved in the violence.
At the moment, military forces are already deployed in the county and are participating in the disarmament process. The military is also trying to find the priest and his driver or find out what happened to him.
In addition, the church announced that it had asked the kidnappers to release the innocent priest and his driver. The church continues to appeal to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the priest and his driver to come forward. Above all, the Church continues to fast and pray for divine intervention.
I believe there is still a war going on in South Sudan. What is the current situation and what are the effects in terms of displacement of people, destruction of property, abuse of women and children?
Thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, are currently seeking refuge in churches, barracks, and UN facilities. Most people ran with nothing. Their homes were burned and their property looted or destroyed. Hunger is widespread because churches and other organizations lack the capacity to respond to needs. Many also lack shelter and emergency medical services.
Women and children who remain in the village continue to be attacked by assailants armed with machetes and knives. The injured are being rushed to crowded hospitals and clinics, and the dead are being buried.
To make matters worse, this is happening during the busy farming season. Agricultural disruption is bound to cause long-term hardship, including hunger, for poor civilians.
Pope Francis has been at the center of peace efforts in South Sudan. Why is peace so elusive?
The main obstacle to peace in South Sudan is that implementation of the peace agreement has been too slow. In addition, rival factions continue to fight, resulting in further killings and displacement of innocent civilians, including destruction of property and economic hardship.
Civilians are targeted because of their ethnicity or membership in rival groups.
International donors and governments continue to put pressure on leaders to resolve differences and work to implement the peace agreement.
Finally, South Sudan gained independence in 2011 amid great expectations. More than a decade later, the country is still in a precarious situation. Was that independence worth it?
Yes, South Sudan’s independence was worth it. Before South Sudan became independent, it was a marginalized region ignored by Sudan’s Arab and Islamic rulers.
Physical infrastructure was almost non-existent. Public institutions were underdeveloped. The governing system was underdeveloped. The illiteracy rate was extremely high.
Almost all social services were non-existent. Lack of critical systems such as education, civic education, commercial agriculture, health care, clean water, housing, sanitation, preventive care, human rights, and strong economic systems and the trained personnel to manage or operate those systems. was doing.
South Sudan is a country that requires a long-term commitment to inclusive nation-building. As an emerging and backward country with all these overwhelming problems, it will take a while for a proper government to come into power to turn things around and put the country on the right track of peace, stability, socio-economic growth and development. It will take years.
What gives South Sudan more advantage than any other recently independent country is its vast untapped wealth.
South Sudan is blessed with a young and energetic population, mineral and natural resources, wildlife, arable land and beautiful landscapes. Therefore, with the right government and leadership, this country can transform into the fastest growing economically developing country within a few years.
South Sudan has all the ingredients it needs to make that happen. All this country needs is the right government and leadership in place. That is why South Sudan’s independence was worth it.
The Church will continue to play an important role in providing guidance for peace, reconciliation, good governance and sustainable development. We will continue to give hope and provide moral, spiritual, and physical support to all suffering people in South Sudan.
