South Sudan: government official condemns attack on Catholic priest

(Vatican Radio) A government official in South Sudan has taken a stand against violence that targeted a Catholic priest, Director of Good News Radio in Rumbek, Lakes State, south Sudan, Fr. Don Bosco Ochieng, who was the victim of a vicious physical assault last week, as he was accompanying a staff member home, when as-yet unidentified assailants accosted and beat him, inflicting serious injuries. The Acting Director General for the Ministry of Social Development in Lakes State, Bol Majok Dong gave an interview to Good News Radio earlier this week, during which he called the attack regrettable and unacceptable, and called for all such acts to be condemned at both national and state levels of government. “It is not right for us or for anyone to do such very bad acts,” he said, adding, “[such acts are] to be condemned by the whole country.” South Sudan became independent in July of 2011, following a referendum on secession from the north that was a condition of a peace agreement that ended major hostilities in a civil conflict that spanned a quarter-century. Since its independence, South Sudan has struggled to build infrastructure, establish basic services, maintain law and order and foster civil society. Listen: