South Sudan’s warring party leaders should instruct their ground forces to end hostilities in Yei River State and stick to the revitalized peace deal implementation, a bishop said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, the Episcopal Bishop of Yei Diocese, Hillary Luate Adeba said despite the signing of the peace accord, thousands of residents living in villages are still suffering from military hostilities between government forces and rebels in the state.
Last week, he said, at least 750 civilians, mainly women, children and the elderly were displaced in Logo, kobo, Pisak and Kirigwa villages following clashes between government troops and rebel fighters loyal to Gen. Thomas Cirillo.
Luate said majority of those displaced have encamped under trees in the church compound, without food, medicines and even water.
“The people of Yei are very tired of the war; there are people in Yei still carrying on with the war. I would want to ask in humble terms that all these forces disengage from such activities,” said the bishop.
He added, “Our people have been pushed from their places without food, water and medicines. These are mostly children, women and the elderly suffering and we don’t have something to give them”.
According to the cleric, rights of people in villages are being violated in the form of rape, killings and destruction of properties.
“We have lost everything in villages, including cattle, people and our food is being burnt, what kind of humanity is this? Please stop this, we are tired of war as destruction still continues in villages,” said Luate.
“The call of the people of Yei is peace and we are asking ourselves why is the fighting only in Yei as if the problems of South Sudan are only on the people of Yei? We are tired of this situation,” he added.
The bishop called for the full implementation of the revitalized peace deal to pave way for reconciliation.
Despite the signing of a peace agreement last year, South Sudan’s warring parties continue trading accusations of ceasefire violations.