Tombura-Yambio, 08 June, 2023 / 8:40 pm (ACI Africa).
The peacebuilding training that the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CODEP), the social wing of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY), is realizing in the South Sudanese Episcopal See “should” go beyond townships, a beneficiary of the latest worship has said.
In an exclusive interview with ACI Africa following the June 1-3 training, Jackson Pai spoke about the need to extend to villages the CODEP initiative aimed at empowering pastoral agents on peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in view of ending violent conflicts between the Azande and Balanda communities in Tombura County.
While the program fosters the “efforts to reduce the incidence of violence which occurs partly due to little misunderstandings,” Mr. Pai said, the initiative “should not only end in town but go to those in the villages because this is where conflict always starts.”
“It will help to respond peacefully to internal events which otherwise might have triggered violence,” the 29-year-old South Sudanese who lost one of his younger brothers during the violence said during the Wednesday, June 7 interview.
He went on to underscore the need “to empower community members with knowledge to prevent further violence,” and added, “The Diocese needs to continue supporting the program so that our people will act” to prevent violence whenever conflict arise.
