A group of church leaders have arrived in northern Unity State to visit war-displaced Christians at Yida and Bentiu refugee camps and elsewhere.
Since late 2013 Unity State has seen some of South Sudan’s worst inter-factional fighting as well as racial killings targeting unarmed civilians.
Church leaders in the state were among those displaced by fighting, some to neighboring states and others to Juba. For example, a Catholic mission at Leer in southern Unity State was ransacked and abandoned earlier this year.
Pariang County Commissioner Monylang Minyiel was part of a group of government officials and local youths who turned out to welcome the church leaders upon their arrival for their pastoral visit on Saturday morning.
“We the people of the government went out to welcome them and greet them at the airstrip, and now we will travel from Yida to Pariang town where the citizens are waiting for them,” he said.
He called the visit by the clergy a “visit of peace” noting that the church should play a big role in peace-building.
Father Samuel Akoch, pastor of a church in Bentiu said that his visit comes after a trip to Malakal. “Our purpose is a visit of peace and to speak about peace among the brothers and sisters who are Christians, and the people of God.”
He thanked those who had turned out to welcome them to Yida. “We are messengers of peace,” he said. “God will bring us peace so that we are once again able to live together.”
For his part, Father Gabriel Deng Ayiik, another church leader who previously served in Bentiu and Pariang, said that Christians were praying for peace and he noted that one pastor would proceed to Bentiu and stay with the people at UNMISS.
Related:
Yei cleric denounces corrupt politicians, tribalism (11 Oct.)
Bishops declare South Sudan war ‘immoral’ (29 Sept.)
Catholic bishop says ‘South Sudan’s liberators are dead’ (13 Sept.)
Bishops to South Sudan leaders: ‘Stop the war’ (13 Apr.)