Tombura Yambio – “Peace is our inheritance; reconciliation is our path; unity is our future. Peace will not come from one group alone. It will come from all of us, hand in hand, heart by heart, village by village, and county to county.”
This is the invitation that Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Diocese of Tombura Yambio extended to authorities, community leaders, civil society representatives, and youth delegates from the ten counties of Western Equatoria State, on the occasion of a recent meeting on promoting peacebuilding and a peaceful electoral environment in South Sudan, organized by the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Organization for Development & Peace .
“As your bishop, I have walked through villages still trembling from past conflicts; I have prayed with widows whose eyes still hold silent tears; I have listened to youth who carry the weight of broken dreams; and I have sat with elders who fear that peace is slowly slipping from the hands of their children. But I have also seen signs of grace,” the prelate emphasized. “I have seen communities choosing dialogue over violence, youth choosing opting football over revenge, women choosing rebuilding over despair, elders choosing wisdom over anger, and the Church standing as a bridge where division once stood.” “It is from these lived realities, from the wounds and the hopes of our people, that I speak today, inviting you to an inclusive dialogue, where every voice matters; to the involvement of young people as builders of the future. Our youth are not a threat. They are the greatest opportunity for the rebirth of Western Equatoria. It is necessary to heal traumas, to heal hearts in order to heal the land. A traumatized society cannot build sustainable peace. No community should ever again be surprised by conflict.”
On this occasion, Bishop Hiiboro formally announced the creation of a qualified network of young peace observers in every district of the country, who will work closely with the DJPC, chiefs, parish leaders, and county authorities.
Speaking of the elderly, the backbone of social cohesion, and of women as peace-mothers and daughters of hope, as well as civic education, a shift in mindset and culture, the bishop emphasized the aspiration for a new culture based on transparency and shared responsibility.
“We are committed to walking with county authorities, administrators, and security organs for the protection of civilians and the promotion of justice. No institution can do this work alone,” Hiiboro concluded. “When the four pillars of peace—heart, mind, community, and structures—stand together, peace becomes unshakeable.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.