RUMBEK, SOUTH SUDAN - After inter-communal clashes in South Sudan’s Lakes state killed at least 20 people, a church leader said he fears the country’s youth are on the “path of death.”
At least 20 people were killed and nearly 40 others were wounded in clashes Saturday, local officials said.
The conflict began June 24 when unidentified gunmen attacked Pachong Payam, which led to counterattacks, said Captain Elijah Mabor Makuach, Lakes state police spokesperson.
“On June 25, other armed groups raided unspecified areas in Awac-Lual cattle camp and went away. On June 26, a group of armed men attacked Gorok, specifically a place called Meen-Waal, where they found some young men who were taking baths and started firing, killing one person and wounding others. This triggered accusations among these warring communities and the security situation has become very volatile,” Makuach told South Sudan in Focus.
“The government has put in place different mechanisms such that [the] security situation could be solved, even a high-level committee of the state including [the] secretary general and the police commissioner approached the warring communities to sort out their differences to remain in peace,” Makuach told VOA.
The Reverend Father Augustine Ekeno, a Catholic priest with the Society of Jesus, a local Jesuit community, said he saw hundreds of armed young people mobilizing Saturday morning in Rumbek East County.
“They were carrying the viciousness. I saw them moving and running [which] demonstrated to me we have allowed our young generation to choose the path of death. Why are we sitting down and allowing the young generation to choose the path of death? What are we doing to make sure we encourage, motivate our young people to choose the path of life,” Ekeno said to South Sudan in Focus.
Ekeno called on the government to intervene and end “this culture of violence and death” in South Sudan, noting that other governments have been successful at engaging youth and ending inter-communal violence.
“Other young people of their age in other countries are focusing on building their own future. I saw many young people who are investing their energy, investing their youth in destruction. That is what made me feel really sorry. I feel sorry for their communities, and I feel sorry for our country, South Sudan,” Ekeno told VOA.
The Jesuit priest called on government leaders to disarm civilians.
“I urge them as their spiritual leader to continue [on the] path of disarmament to remove the guns from our brother, which is causing a lot of destruction, and if we do that successfully, peace will reign in this country,” Ekeno said.
Newer articles:
- UN treats over 84,000 children with acute malnutrition in South Sudan since January - 30/06/2020 14:54
- 45 people killed in South Sudan ethnic clashes - 30/06/2020 07:31
- UNHCR South Sudan welcomes the people of Japan’s commitment to the most vulnerable - 30/06/2020 03:30
- Tens Of Thousands Malnourished Children Treated This Year In South Sudan - 30/06/2020 01:42
- South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors for eight states - 30/06/2020 01:02
Older news items
- Feature: South Sudan's visually impaired persons bear the brunt of COVID-19 - 29/06/2020 13:33
- Dozens killed and injured in southern Sudan clashes - 29/06/2020 13:00
- South Sudan's Changing Tastes: Conflict, displacement and food imports - 29/06/2020 11:20
- Solar-powered radios to battle misinformation on COVID-19 in Eastern Equatoria - 29/06/2020 11:18
- Bridge Builders: Strengthening the role of local faith actors in humanitarian response in South Sudan - 29/06/2020 06:53
Latest news items (all categories):
- The Voice of Responsibility: How Young South Sudanese are Saying No to Violence Through Music, Drama, and Digital Content - 03/06/2026 16:56
- Peace fails if it is not defended. The UN’s peacekeepers cannot do this alone - 03/06/2026 16:39
- 'Brink of famine': Why South Sudan’s children are paying the price of war - 03/06/2026 16:34
- Volleyball Cranes defeat South Sudan to maintain perfect start - 03/06/2026 16:30
- 'I've seen love': South Sudan bishop applauds Canadians during first visit - 03/06/2026 16:26
Random articles (all categories):
- Urgent funding needed to address the humanitarian needs of 6.6 million people in South Sudan in 2021 - 16/03/2021 01:30
- Why Netanyahu has set Israel's sights on Africa - 23/01/2021 17:46
- UN chief says peacekeeper killed as Sudan base shelled - 14/06/2013 16:09
- Can more restrictive measures on South Sudan end civil war? - 09/02/2018 09:49
- Sudan army says retakes areas from rebels in Darfur, South Kordofan - 13/01/2015 06:03
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 145363 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27294 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 24531 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 23909 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 21751 times
