In a context of violence, famine, and malnutrition, Bishop Hiiboro Kussala sends a message of peace and healing ahead of Lent

Tombura Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – Fifteen years after independence, there is no respite for the more than 12 million inhabitants of the world's youngest country. Decades of conflict and isolation, initially due to the war between 1955 and 2005, have caused a devastating humanitarian crisis that continues to affect the entire population. After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, a new internal conflict broke out in the country between 2013 and 2018 due to disagreements between the main institutional leaders of the newly formed Republic. The conflict officially ended in September 2018 with the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) between the parties (see Fides, 20/9/2018). However, the situation remains difficult and the peace agreement remains at risk (see Fides, 5/3/2025).

In recent weeks, there has been an escalation of violence between the army and opposition forces. According to a recent UNICEF report, violence has intensified since the end of December 2025, particularly in the northern and central regions of the country. In Jonglei State, at least 280,000 people have been displaced, most of them women and children who are at risk of being killed, maimed, or recruited by armed groups. Malnutrition and famine are on the rise, the health system is collapsing, and cholera and malaria are rampant.

It is in this context of extreme precariousness that the Bishop of the Diocese of Tombura Yambio, Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, issued his Lenten message on 16 February, inviting all the faithful to a time of conversion, healing and hope. "Our Diocese faces many challenges: hatred, tribal divisions, manipulation of youth, betrayal, targeted violence, forced divorces, poverty, and diseases affecting our communities. Lent is not merely a season of fasting," the bishop emphasizes, "but a time of spiritual rebirth, social responsibility, and community healing. We are invited to return to God, restore relationships, and build communities of reconciliation and solidarity.
Beloved People of God, Lent is not merely a season of fasting but a time of spiritual rebirth, social responsibility, and community healing. Let every parish, family, and individual commit to returning to God, restoring peace, and supporting the vulnerable," Kussala concludes. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2026)

Source: https://www.fides.org/en/news/77371-AFRICA_SOUTH_SUDAN_In_a_context_of_violence_famine_and_malnutrition_Bishop_Hiiboro_Kussala_sends_a_message_of_peace_and_healing_ahead_of_Lent