“A nation cannot build new roads on old wounds”: South Sudanese Catholic Bishop Urges Youth to Embrace Dialogue

The Bishop urged the South Sudanese youths to embrace peace from within themselves through love of self and positive self-image.

“Before you change the world, you must first heal the world inside you,” he said and explained that many young people fall into conflict because they feel unseen, unvalued, ignored and powerless.

He cautioned the youth that a lack of self-love fosters fear of others, a failure to value oneself can lead to attacking others, and a lack of self-belief may result in retreating solely within one’s own tribe.

Bishop Hiiboro urged the youth to reclaim a positive self-image by affirming that they are capable, gifted, valuable, and part of the solution.

He emphasised that recognising the beauty within themselves would allow them to see beauty in others, and that honouring their own dignity would enable them to respect and honour those around them.

He noted that adopting a positive mindset would not only strengthen personal confidence but also promote unity, understanding, and constructive engagement within their communities.

“Young people run into tribal identity because development is weak, the rule of law is fragile, violence takes central stage in governance, opportunities are unequal, patriotism is broken, and cronyism and favouritism dominate. But tribe is not the enemy,” he said.

He added, “The problem is when tribe becomes a hiding place for fear, a shield from insecurity, or a weapon for conflict. We must build a nation where youth stand confidently as South Sudanese first, proud and equal.”

“Peace is development, and development is peace,” Bishop Hiiboro asserted, and  explained, “Where there is peace, development grows, and where there is development, peace is protected.”

He explained that peace attracts investors, development creates jobs, jobs reduce violence, education defeats manipulation, and prosperity kills conflict.

The South Sudanese Bishop said that peace is not simply the silence of guns, but true peace is when communities grow, mothers sleep without fear, and youth prosper.

“Development is not only roads or buildings. Development is dignity, opportunity, and equality. This is why we insist: peace is development, and development is peace,” he said in his message to the youths, further urging them to become “architects of unity” for peace to reign.

The youths, he said, “should create mixed activities such as sports tournaments, cultural festivals, inter-school peace exchanges, youth tourism and cultural visits, joint business ventures, and agriculture cooperatives.”

He said that when youth work together, they stop fearing each other, thereby fostering unity, which he emphasised is the “bridge to our peaceful future.”

Bishop Hiiboro urged the youths to work together for peace, recommending joint efforts in farming projects between two tribes, shared youth cooperatives or associations, among others, saying, “When money flows across tribes, peace flows across hearts.”

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He also cautioned the young people against careless words, spreading hate speech, and stereotypes, adding, “Words are seeds: plant peace, harvest peace; plant hate, harvest destruction.”

“Our cultures contain treasures such as respect, truth, hospitality, solidarity, and hard work. Take the good from culture and reject the harmful, including revenge killings, early forced marriages, discrimination, and violent masculinity,” he said.

He recommended the need to invest in agriculture, business innovation, technology, vocational training, and youth cooperatives, saying that the youth must create the future.

The South Sudanese Church leader described peace as a skill that must be taught and practised further, calling for the creation of peace in clubs in schools, churches, mosques, bomas, and parishes.

“Teach mediation, negotiation, trauma awareness, and fact-checking. An educated mind is hard to manipulate,” he said, and added, “Elders carry memory. Youth carry energy. Together, they carry destiny. Peace thrives when they walk together.”

“Dear young people, your hands hold the future of this land. Your choices will determine whether South Sudan rises or falls. If you heal yourself, you heal your tribe. If you heal your tribe, you heal your state. If you heal your state, you heal your nation,” he said.

He added, “Peace is justice, opportunity, dignity, and hope. Peace is not far away. Peace is you. Peace is now. Peace is the work of your hands.”