VIOLENCE OF UGANDAN REBELS CONTINUES IN YAMBIO SAYS BISHOP HIIBORO
“The world has forgotten us, it’s terrible”, said to MISNA Monsignor Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the diocese of Tombura-Yambio, after celebrating the funerals of the latest victims of the Ugandan rebels of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army). LRA attacks and raids are relentless in this main Sudanese city in West Equatoria, not far from the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The last victims were killed in the middle on the night on Saturday, just 2km from the centre of Yambio. “They even abducted 18 women and children”, added Monsignor Hiiboro Kussala. Last Friday the Ugandan rebels ambushed a car at around 20km from the city, shooting dead five people. These episodes come in a dramatic context not only in the Tombura-Yambio diocese and Western Equatoria state, but also over the borders. In Yambio there is even a Ugandan military post, say MISNA sources, “but the soldiers don’t ever hunt the rebels when they return to the base in the forest”. The insecurity is also affecting the economy, adds Monsignor Hiiboro Kussala, “because the people are too afraid to work in the fields”. An international conference was organised for Wednesday in Yambio to call for a decisive intervention of governments against the LRA violence. Bishops and officials from Sudan, the Central African Republic and DR-Congo will meet for three days to address the ongoing attacks and violence. Based on UN estimates, since the start of 2009 and last July the LRA rebels killed at least 1,500 people, forcing tens of thousands to flee.
Thanks for updates. I aplogize that I am not better about replying, but please know that we are praying for your ministry. Having travelled to this part of the world some 20 years ago, I know first hand what happens and how helpless many of these people feel. They are not forgotten!
Lovingly in His Name!
Don, I am praying for you and Suzy. We appreciate all you are doing to help those in such desperate need around the world.
Thank you for reporting on this. It is something hard for us here to comprehend. I was in Sudan a couple years ago and this group abducted 22 women and children about 10 miles from where I was staying. That week was the most terrifying of my life and gave just a small taste of what these people go through so often. It is easy to put it out of mind once safely away and I thank you for alerting and informing us of the ongoing issue. May we remember to pray for a resolution and encourage our government to take a role in solving this horrible problem