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| Msgr. Roko Taban, Apostolic Administrator Malakal Diocese |
The Apostolic Administrator of Malakal Msgr. Roko Taban has said that the idea of starting to rebuild the structures of the Diocese that were destroyed and vandalized during the war in the country should wait until stability is guaranteed.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News from Juba, Msgr. Roko Taban said that normalcy is yet to come to Malakal town since only few people have gone back.
“It is not wise to start to start rebuilding while security is not ensured and the war is still going on in some parts of the diocese,” he said adding that “What we are doing now is to reach out to people who have gone back to other parts of the diocese.”
He said that quite a number of priests from the diocese have gone back to Malakal town to minister to people and quite a number of parishes within the diocese are now operational.
He said “You can only talk of normalcy when there is a real ceasefire and a real peace deal. As of now, there is no proper ceasefire, no proper secession of hostility, no proper peace deal and therefore many people have kept away.”
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed another ceasefire deal on 2nd February in their latest effort to end 15 months of deadly fighting in a civil war that has ravaged the world’s newest country. However, according to Msgr. Taban, exchange of fire between government troops and the rebels were reported in the Upper Nile State and Unity state after even signing of the ceasefire.
“Peace deal is a kind of hope for the people of South Sudan because we are practically tired of what is going on,” Msgr Taban said adding “The current war is basically for power struggle, the hunger for power that everyone wants to gain.”
“When you listen to discussions going on among leaders, it is all about who will be the minister here and there, yet nothing is discussed about the people of South Sudan who bear the brunt and suffer the consequences of the ongoing conflict,” he said.
He appealed to AU and IGAD to be very strong in pushing the two parties to sign the agreement for the good of the people of South Sudan. He said that although the Catholic Church is not fully involved in the mediation process since the mandate belongs to IGAD Countries.
Meanwhile, Msgr. Taban confirmed media reports that more than two and a half million South Sudanese are facing hunger crisis adding that the situation is perhaps worse than what is reported by the media.
“Because of the ongoing conflict many people have not managed to engage in food production, thousands of people still lives in internally displaced camps. AU therefore must be very strong in pushing the two parties to sign the Peace agreement, and adhere to it for the good of the people of South Sudan,” he said.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News Reporter