Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Juba, has urged South Sudanese to denounce tribalism and accept one another regardless of their ethnicities.
Ameyu is also the apostolic administrator of Torit diocese.
Speaking to the congregation at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Torit town of Eastern Equatoria State on Sunday, Archbishop Ameyu said most South Sudanese lack faith.
“Leave alone the feuds we have between our different clans and villages. That is a very painful thing. What is causing all the killings among our people is the evil we need to uproot. Our problem is faith, our faith has not grown to bring us shade,” said Ameyu.
He added, “When there is peace, all of us will stay together, but when there is violence, we will scatter. The devil has entered our hearts and we need to get rid of it by listening to the word of God. It is only the word of God that can make us understand that the other village or clan is not our enemy, but they are your brothers, sisters and they are your people only by religion.”
The religious leader further called for equality among citizens, saying they should change their negative hearts into positive ones.
For his part, the Eastern Equatoria State governor, Louis Lobong Lojore urged the youth to support his peace and reconciliation efforts in the state.
“I have come to make people of greater Torit and greater Kapoeta live in peace and unity. I came so that we reconcile and continue with it. We should make our state a better place,” he said.