Praying for peace in South Sudan

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro has challenged South Sudan President, Salva Kiir to work towards stopping the war and ensure that government soldiers behave professionally.

The President of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro of Tombura-Yambio Diocese challenged the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit to take a “serious lead in putting in place concrete steps, which have to hold the nation as one.”
Bishop Hiiboro said this in Yambio over the weekend, during the countrywide National Day of Prayer called for by President Kiir.

Bishop Hiiboro challenged South Sudanese leadership represented by President Kiir as well as citizens to repent saying, “For this prayer to become historical and meaningful for us today we must repent and sin no more!”

He urged President Kiir to take responsibility and bring about positive change saying, “The whole South Sudan will be watching President Salva Kiir very closely (to see) whether this prayer will change his decisions and attitude for peaceful means to regain South Sudan.”

The Bishop advocated for “open, honest and civil dialogue on issues of ethnic relations, restorative justice, (and) forgiveness” among other national challenges. He also called for continued prayers, and the need to “Stop the war and seriously direct all SPLA soldiers to behave nationally and professionally.”

He reiterated the necessity of repentance saying, “As South Sudanese, we must show that we are sorry and ashamed of our deeds.”

(Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, CANAA in Nairobi)