By Emmanuel Mandella

The Bishops of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria Internal Province have condemned the recent human rights violations in Wonduruba and Kuli Papa, Juba County, Central Equatoria State, and called for action to be taken on perpetrators.

In a joint statement signed by twelve reverends of the church, released on Sunday, November 10, the bishops recounted the harrowing incident, on October 10, where a priest was killed among other civilians.

The bishops demanded that the government expedite the approval for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and other organizations to conduct independent investigations in Wonduruba.

To express their grief and call for divine intervention, the Episcopal Church has declared 30 days of mourning in the Central Equatoria Internal Province. This period will be marked by prayer, fasting, and meetings focused on confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

The church issued a somber plea for those who orchestrated these brutal acts to come forward and report to church authorities within one month of the statement. “This is our simple prophetic message,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, in a separate press statement issued on Monday, November 11, by the Wonduruba Community Association, and signed by Hon. Juma Stephen Lugga, reportedly the chairperson of the community, the association condemned the recent incident where three members of the same family were killed in Wonduruba.

“We are writing to formally express our profound outrage and condemnation regarding the recent incident in Wonduruba, where three members were brutally killed. This heinous act comes just a month after the massacre of ten youths in the same area, reflecting a disturbing pattern of violence that continues to plague our community,” the letter read in part.

“We are deeply alarmed by the apparent lack of security and protection for residents of Wonduruba. The recent incidents highlight a failure to safeguard innocent lives and to uphold the rule of law. It is imperative that the authorities take decisive action to investigate these killings thoroughly and ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” the statement read in part.

 Notably, last mid last month, following the killings in Wonduruba, Central Equatoria state Governor, Augustino Jadalla visited Wonduruba Administrative Payam to console with the people and the families of the youth who were killed in the area.

The governor condemned the inhumane killing of innocent civilians and promised that his administration and relevant security organs would investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Early this month, the governor formed a committee to investigate the killings, assess the security situation in the two areas, and to bring the perpetrators to book even as it delivers a report to his office within two weeks.