Religious leaders in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State have appealed to warring groups in the area to recommit to peaceful dialogue and adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreement.
The retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Yei, Hillary Luate Abeba, appealed to the parties to create a conducive environment for the safe return of internally displaced persons and returnees back home.
“We can’t address the cause of the people who fled their villages and we are asking those who are responsible, those who caused this, to address this problem because we don’t have food and sanitary facilities for these people staying under these mango trees. We want this issue addressed so that the people can return and resume their normal activities for their livelihoods in their villages,” Bishop Adeba said.
For his part, Paul Yugusuk, the Archbishop of the Central Equatoria State internal province, urged the belligerent parties to cease the conflict and recommit to peaceful dialogue to end the suffering of residents within Central Equatoria State.
“We are in partnership with Sant’Egidio and as a church, we need to attend the forthcoming Nairobi talks and we recommend that such dialogues must continue to reach a political settlement to this problem,” Bishop Yugusuk said. “And I want to urge the parties to the conflict to ensure the safety and protection of the people and they must put the interest of the people first so that the displaced people can settle peacefully.”
Despite the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, the former Yei River State remains a battlefield for mostly the government and the National Salvation Front (NAS) rebels.
Recently, over 1,000 internally displaced persons from Otogo Payam in Yei River County camped under mango trees at the Episcopal Church compound due to a renewed displacement in the area.