The local authorities in Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, have called upon the people of Liwolo Payam to return home and start rebuilding their lives after being displaced by the 2016 crisis.
The people of Liwolo Payam experienced severe losses during the 2016 crisis, forcing many to flee to refugee camps in the neighboring countries while others went to neighboring payams.
Addressing the Kajo-Keji regional revival convention on Saturday, Kajo-Keji Commissioner David Lisi said civilians in Liwolo have now experienced over three months without gunfire which is a significant improvement.
“Come back home from wherever you are. The payam of Liwolo is not like when you left it before. You can stay here even for three months without hearing a gunshot. Come back home. What the nation is doing is now healing the broken wounds,” he said. “So, come home and join the healing. Living in a refugee camp has been our long story but this time must be different. Let the people of Liwolo come. Let us see the rainy season begin with the people here. If you come, the other essential services like water, education, agriculture etc will follow.”
Commissioner Lisi added, “We cannot bring sheets and distribute them to nobody, and we cannot bring textbooks and give them to no school, so come back home and let us rebuild Liwolo.”
He directed those willing to return home to register with the area chiefs so their names could be forwarded to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC).
“When you are returning, please let the chief know so that he submits the names to the RRC. When you talk of agricultural tools, that is the priority of the government. If we see that you have settled and you are ready for cultivation, seeds and the tools will be available,” Lisi stated. “If you are still a holdout group, then, this time you need to come back home and Join your brothers. Nobody needs war again, so join the peace.”
For his part, Rt. Rev. Bishop Joseph Aba, a Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, said it is time for forgiveness, reconciliation, and rebuilding, not only in Kajo-Keji but in the whole country.
“The time for the war is over and it is time for forgiveness, reconciliation and to rebuild our lives again. We strongly believe that God is the rebuilder and a God of second chances,” he stressed. “This message is for all South Sudanese wherever you are. God wants to rebuild our nation and our lives better. Therefore, we are praying for revival again and that is why we are here at this convention.”
The Kajo-Keji regional revival convention which ended on Sunday happens every three years and attracts faithful from the West Nile region of Uganda, South Sudan, and East Africa generally.