ROME Pope Francis will visit South Sudan in October if the security situation in the country stricken by civil war and famine does not worsen, a bishop from the country said on Tuesday. The pope has said several times that he wants to go to the country to ......
ROME Pope Francis will visit South Sudan in October if the security situation in the country stricken by civil war and famine does not worsen, a bishop from the country said on Tuesday.The pope has said several times that he wants to go to the country to preach peace but so far no time frame has been given."We have been informed (by a Vatican official) that he will come in October but we don't know the exact date yet," Bishop Erkolano Tombe of the city of Yei, told Reuters in an interview."It depends on the security situation between now and October. If it remains as it is now, he will come," Tombe said. He said October was toward the end of rainy season, which starts next month. Oil-producing South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, descended into civil war in December 2013 when a dispute between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar ended with fighting, often along ethnic lines. Both sides have targeted civilians, human rights groups say.Kiir's government and the United Nations have declared a famine in some part of the world's youngest country, where nearly half of its population of 5.5 million face food shortages.Tombe, in Rome for meetings of the Catholic charity group Caritas Internationalis, said the situation was dire in his city of Yei, which lies southwest of the capital Juba and near the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Many people have died. They were shot while trying to harvest their crops ... There are over 100,000 people trapped in Yei," he said.Last month, the pope said he wanted the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the worldwide Anglican communion, to accompany him on the trip to the mostly Christian country in a sign of unity.. "I don't want to lose hope but this hope has to be based on negotiations. If these warmongers don't come and sit together the war will continue," Tombe said.On top of the civil war, South Sudan has been hit by the same east African drought that has pushed Somalia to the brink of famine, six years after 260,000 people starved to death.A confidential U.N. report seen by Reuters mainly blames the government for the famine, yet it is boosting its forces by using millions of dollars from oil sales. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Newer articles:
- Heartbreaking scenes of war and famine in South Sudan childrens' hospital - 22/03/2017 00:53
- Corrupt Leaders Thrust South Sudan Into Famine and Abject Ruin - 21/03/2017 21:16
- South Sudan says will boost security in oilfields after kidnappings - 21/03/2017 21:04
- The crisis unfolding in South Sudan: It could be a repeat of the Rwanda catastrophe - 21/03/2017 14:50
- Forest Whitaker: It's not too late to save South Sudan - 21/03/2017 13:49
Older news items
- 1st units of South Sudan protection force arrive soon: UN - 21/03/2017 07:14
- All 49 passengers, crew survive 'miraculous' crash landing in South Sudan - 20/03/2017 17:40
- South Sudan needs peace as much as food - 20/03/2017 11:00
- South Sudan Rebels Kidnap Workers Of Chinese-Malaysian Oil Firm - 20/03/2017 09:31
- UN report slams South Sudan's arms purchases amid famine - 18/03/2017 10:41
Latest news items (all categories):
- IGAD and South Sudan Strengthen National Coordination for the Implementation of the Building Women’s Economic Resilience for Sustainable Peace Project - 03/08/2026 18:53
- South Sudan plans interoperable birth registration, digital ID systems - 03/08/2026 18:50
- South Sudan Oil & Power Returns as South Sudan’s Premier Investment Platform - 03/08/2026 18:04
- Kenya: Mudavadi meets South Sudan foreign minister as Juba gears up for landmark elections - 03/08/2026 16:52
- A Long Road Home: Jal’s Journey Through Conflict and Separation - 03/08/2026 16:41
Random articles (all categories):
- Frustration Breeds Violence in S. Sudan IDP Camps - 06/10/2014 02:47
- In South Sudan, children on the battlefield - 05/06/2015 00:54
- SOUTH SUDAN GROWING PAINS: World Vision offers a path for Canada to be a global leader in helping the world's most vulnerable people - 08/07/2016 05:07
- Maj. Gen. Dr. Akol Ayii shouldn't be falsely implicated in Corruption and Nepotism; a response to Eye Radio - 24/07/2020 12:19
- The Ministry of Petroleum of the Republic of South Sudan: Petronas Extends South Sudan Commitment, Pledges to Put Oil Production Back On Stream - 22/03/2018 08:07
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 148273 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27915 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25000 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24322 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22279 times
