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Prelate in South Sudan Concerned about Incomplete Formation of Unity Government

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio in South Sudan.

Seven months after South Sudan formed the national unity government that was meant to end war and initiate peace and harmony in the world’s youngest nation, the Catholic Bishop of the country’s Diocese of Tombura-Yambio has expressed worry over the incomplete formation of the political administrative units to make up the government.

In his Wednesday, August 19 message published by Ruru Gene newsletter of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio shared with ACI Africa, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala says the speed in which the agreement is being implemented is slow and might have “repercussions.”

“The completion of the formation of a government of national unity according to the peace agreement is very much slow and the delay in completing it on time has a lot of repercussions,” Bishop Hiiboro says.  

The Prelate shares his observation in the East-Central African nation saying, “People are not psychologically comfortable because their government is not complete and many things are still hanging.”

“The services that the country is supposed to provide to its citizens are currently not moving. For instance, the humanitarian situations of people in many areas are quite deplorable,” he observes and adds, “This is aggravated by the rains during the rainy seasons; roads are impassable and most essential commodities can’t reach many citizens in many parts of the country.”

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South Sudanese leaders in the coalition for peace have only managed forming the national cabinet and appointing nine out of ten state governors. Other areas of governance, however, such as the reconstitution of Legislative Assemblies, security arrangements and appointing of commissions and county commissioners have not been reached so far.  

Reference reported intercommunal clashes in the country, Bishop Hiiboro says, “The rate of crime is very high in the country while in different places, there is sporadic violence which often leads to loss of life and property as well as causing fear among the people.”

According to the Local Ordinary of Tombura-Yambio Diocese, international partners are getting tired of taking care of refugees in the settlements outside the country as well as those in the displacement camps at home.

The situation, he says, has been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are talking about over two million people living as refugees outside the country as well as those living at the protection of civilian camps within the country,” the South Sudanese Bishop says.

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“I am therefore urging the government to (speed) up the process of formation of a government of national unity and among this is to finish the reorganization of the army which is very crucial,” Bishop Hiiboro says and adds, “We cannot continue having a country with so many commanders-in-chief which is what the country currently has.”

He further says, “I urge that the work should be done fast and help build up a national united army for the Republic of South Sudan.”

It will be the pride of South Sudan, the Prelate says, to have a national army who are working in unity for the protection of the nation and all the people of the Republic of South Sudan as is the case in the country’s neighbors.

In his message to the international community and the guarantors of the Peace Agreement, Bishop Hiiboro says, “I implore you not to give up on the people of South Sudan owing to the slowness of the program but I encourage you to hold on and to walk with South Sudan throughout this process.”