News List

The State Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports to Introduce Cycling Federation in Western Equatoria State

By Baraka John 

The State Minister of Youth Culture and Sports in Western Equatoria revealed that the ministry has fully registered the branch of the cycling association under the national cycling federation. 

Addressing youth who gathered to attend a peace concert organized by the youth coordination office of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura Yambio on Easter Monday, Hon David Simbi disclosed that, a team from the national cycling federation visited Yambio in January to assess the ground for the branch of the association.

“So, the cycling competition that we will embark on is the one that will benefit you, your state, and your country. This completion has four types of bicycles that are used by the participants, this includes road bike, truck bike, mountain bike, and BMX. These are the types of bikes that the ministry intends to bring here in the state”, Hon. Simbi said.

The Minister has called on young people in the State to embrace sports activities so that they can stay healthy. He said soon the ministry will send the selected number of young men to travel to Khartoum to acquire skills on cycling completion, who will become Trainer of trainees.  

“Now we need young people to join this federation because once you are selected to compete, you will be needed to perform well, definitely you will be rewarded. The ministry has also registered with the European cycling federation, so we are set to participate in any cycling competition to come on our way”, He added.

He added that the national cycling federation has pledged to support the ministry with some sports bikes to allow young people to begin practicing. 

There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing cycling sports include artistic cycling, cycle polo, freestyle BMX and mountain bike trials. But Hon. Simbi said the state will only focus on road bikes, track bikes, mountain bikes, and BMX.

According to better health.vic.gov. au. the health benefits of regular cycling help increase cardiovascular fitness, increased muscle strength, and flexibility, improved joint mobility, and decreased stress levels.

Diocesan Youth Coordinator Urges Government to Provide Land for Recreational Centre

By Baraka John

The Diocesan youth coordinator in the Catholic Diocese of Tambura Yambio appealed to the State government to provide piece of land for the youth in the Diocese to enable them establish a recreational centre or theatre. 

Mr. William Tambua while addressing faithful and government officials in the evening of Monday 10^th April 2023 during a peace concert organized by the CDTY youth coordination office, said there is an argent need for the youth in the diocese to establish recreational centre to act as a therapy for trauma healing among the community.

Mr. Tambua added that once the centre is established, youth in the diocese will create weekends programs where people will gather to watch different sorts of entertainments to wash away the trauma in their minds.

Responding to the request, the first deputy mayor for Yambio municipality, Peter Mukanga, expressed the municipality’s willingness to allocate a piece of land for the youth in the diocese for them to establish the centre.

Since the independence, South Sudanese have experienced different forms of violence which has left them traumatized up to date, with no theatres where plays are performed as a means to rebuild broken hearts and heal minds of the citizens.

But according to the CDTY youth coordinator, establishing such a centre is critical towards the realization of peace in the minds and positive thinking. Mr. Tambua said that if the centre established, it will be for all the youth regardless of their denominations.

Thousands of faithful gathered at St. Mary primary school in the evening of Monday to attend a peace concert that involved varieties of performances, including dances, dramas, citing of poems by school children.   

Bicycle Riding for Peace, Unity and Development and to Foster the Spirit of coexistence and Unity in Diversity

By Baraka John

Hundreds of faithful in Yambio including the government officials, business elites and youth participated in a bicycle ride on Monday 10^th April 2023 to observe Easter Monday.

Speaking to Rurugene Online Newsletter, the Diocesan Youth coordinator Mr. William Tambua noted that the annual event was designed couples of years ago, by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura Yambio, refer to as “Easter Monday bicycle riding for peace, unity and development”.

“This bicycle ride, is for unity, peace and development, have cooperated with our youth, government officials and the Church leaders in order to be as one people to bring peace”. Mr Tambua added.

Mr Tambua stated that, the event is taken as an avenue to ensure that youth, politicians and business entity coordinate together to develop the State and foster the spirit of coexistence and unity in diversity.

On the other hand, Commissioner of Yambio County, Hon. Mbiko Barakati described Bishop Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala as a visionary leader, who initiated the bicycle ride program to strengthen relation among different categories of human beings.

Hon. Barakati, expressed the readiness of the county government to work together with the Diocese wherever necessary.

In the bicycle ride exercise were the Hon. Minsters of Youth, sports and culture as well as renowned business man Mr Jackson Fudu and the people living with disability.   

The 5Km bicycle ride that began from Masia market to Yambio freedom square enrooted to Yambio open market proceeded to St. Mary Parish Mother of God, was accompanied with a diocesan music band known as “Pax brass band”, and the Diocesan trained Scouts.

Commissioner Barakati to Enforce 2021 Local Order Expelling Ambororo

By Baraka John 

The County commissioner for Yambio County Hon. Mbiko Barakati has told Anisa radio that his office is on the verge to revive and enforce the 2021 local order issued by the State’s top authority for the expulsion of Ambororo nomads from the Territory of Western Equatoria. 

In 2021 Governor Futuyo issued a state local order banning locals from trading with the foreign pastoralists, the order stated that any local found trading with the nomads will face drastic measures in a court of law.  

However, the order remained unimplemented as the local communities could still be seen buying cattle from the nomads, something Commissioner Barakati termed defiant of the State move adding that the order will soon be enforced, to ensure the nomads are out of Yambio County.

On the 18^th of March 2023, a group of Ambororo nomads was reported to have attacked a house of a 65 years old man in an area called Berezigbo of Bangasu payam in the eastern part of Yambio County and gunned down four people. This incident has sparked fear among the locals in the area. 

The Yambio county commissioner blamed locals for continuously trading with the foreign pastoralists which he says create room for them to stay in Yambio and other parts of the State.

“What brought Ambororo back are the citizens of Western Equatoria, few of us who have been trading with the Ambororo, who pool them to enter again in Western Equatoria, supplying them with salt and money, buying cows from them and again supply them with all the needs they want”, Commissioner Barakati said.

Barakati further said that any one person found in the act defying the state order will be penalized by the county.

“I want to tell the people of Yambio County in particular that we have a local order which was issued by the honorable governor in 2021 and again renewed in the same year for the State in general, that Ambororo should leave Western Equatoria State, nobody should exercise business activities between him or her and Ambororo. Somebody who will be caught conducting business with Ambororo, first and foremost the goods and motorbikes you are using will be confiscated and you will be taken to the court of law for breaking the local order”, Barakati added.   

The presence of Ambororo nomads in some parts of Western Equatoria State continues to create fear among the population as they do not know the motive of the foreign pastoralists in the State.

On 21^st March 2023, the King of Azande Kingdom His majesty king Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue called on the public to stop trading with the foreign cattle keepers stressing that this activity keeps the nomads in the areas causing havoc in the community. 

He urged the state government to work hard to stabilize security to allow the farmers to cultivate as the rainy season has started.  

CODEP Step Up Effort to Provide Clean Drinking Water to Communities as the World Commemorate “World Water Day”

By Baraka John

As the globe on 22^nd March marked world water day, the Catholic organization for peace and development (CODEP) continues to step up efforts to provide clean drinking water to different communities of Western Equatoria State, through the “wash project”.

The Catholic-based organization has planned to dig seven boreholes this year in different locations in the State to avert a shortage of water among the communities.

The project which is funded by the Sudan Relief Fund is expected to benefit communities of Maridi, Mambe, Yambio, Gangura, Bagidi, Banduguyo, and Gangara Emilia South in Yambio.   

A team of experts completed the molding of nine rings in Gangura Payam in a two-day period, only waiting for it to be fixed into the well. The experts are to travel to the eastern deanery of the Diocese to continue molding rings. 

The theme for the 2023 World Water Day is “accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis”. The theme calls for the public to alter the way they use, consume, and manage water in their lives. This will assist in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6- water and sanitation for all by 2030.

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

King Atoroba Sends a Message of Sympathy to Families that Lost their Family Members in the hands of the Pastoralist in Western Equatoria State

By Joseph Ernesto

The king of the Azande Kingdom has sent his message of sympathy to the families that had lost their relatives on the hand of the cattle headers commonly known as Ambororo who have occupied some parts of Western Equatoria State specially Ibba and Maridi Counties. His majesty king Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue on Tuesday 21^st March 2023 in his message of condolences through Anisa Radio said, “my heart goes out to you at this difficult time, you have my deepest sympathy and the Kingdom stands with you to say no, that shouldn’t happen again in the Azande Kingdom”.

The King called on the public to stop trading with the cattle keepers as this keeps them in the areas and their cattle devastate the agricultural land of Western Equatoria.

He urged the state government to work hard to stabilize insecurity to allow the farmers to cultivate as the rainy season has started.

Talking to the youth, King Atoroba advised them to distance themselves from the pastoralist to maintain stability during this rainy season.

A couple of weeks ago, 5 people were killed by cattle keepers in Western Equatoria State, which has created fear among citizens.

The Azande King encouraged people within the Kingdom to prioritize agriculture as it is important in supporting livelihoods through food and building strong economies through trade.

CODEP launches Peace Building Project to Conflict-Affected Areas in Western Equatoria State

By Baraka John

A Peace-building project for conflict-affected areas of Western Equatoria State has been launched this morning by the Catholic organization for peace and development.

The 12 – months project funded by the US embassy in South Sudan, is to increase social cohesion within Western Equatoria State and to reduce the risk of inter-communal violence at the local level through dialogue processes.

Addressing the invited guests on the launching of the project, the director of the Catholic Organization for Peace and Development (CODEP) Fr. Charles, added that the project of peace-building activities also aims to mitigate the risk of figure conflicts by creating a local conflict management mechanism.   

“Western Equatoria we shall be focusing on Tambura, Ezo, Maridi, and other places, because this peace-building project is not only for two tribes of Western Equatoria but it is for the tribes living here in the State. Our country needs peace in order to move ahead, everyone who has experienced this conflict in greater Tambura and other parts of the State is traumatized”. Fr. Charles said

The project will also cover components of capacity building for local authorities and local leaders to enable them peacefully address conflicts in their areas. Also, involve community members in conflict scans and dialogue meetings.

Other components include validating and prioritizing conflict issues and available solutions proved, improving the capacity of local women in the communities, among others.

Mr. Tahir Ibrahim UNDP representative stated that peace is key for South Sudanese at this critical moment of the transitional period as the Country is gearing toward electing its leaders.

Mr. Ibrahim commended CODEP for the peace-building program and called on the international partners to help fund peace-building programs in Western Equatoria State.

“As UNMISS we appreciate the effort by CODEP to implement this peace-building project in the conflict-affected areas of Western Equatoria State, project such as this, is very critical in terms of resolving conflicts in those affected areas and fostering that peaceful inter-communal co-existence and social cohesion”, Mr. Ibrahim added.

On the other hand, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura – Yambio, Rev. Fr. Thomas Bagbiowia said, phase one of the project will cover Tambura and Ezo, phase two will cover Nagioro, Namutina, and other places in the Diocese.

The implementation of the peace-building project will now start in Tambura County which has seen worse inter-communal conflict in the last two years.

In attendance was a representative of the UN, CSOs organized forces, and State Minister of Peacebuilding who warmly welcome the initiative and expressed government support for the success of this project.

President Salva Kiir Promises to Open Kuajok-Yambio Road to Honor 100 Years of Faith

By Sr. Henriette Anne FSSA

During the Centenary celebration of 100 years of Faith in Kuajok Wau Diocese on 18^th March 2023, President Salva Kiir the president of the Republic of South Sudan promised to open Kuajok – Yambio road in order to leave a historical mark for the 100 years of faith upon the request of Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura – Yambio (CDTY) who spoke on behalf of Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference.

President Kiir also in his remarks recognized the crucial role played by the Catholic church in areas of Evangelism, education, and health. He added that he will work on the construction and refurbishing of old Churches and schools.

The Centenary celebration held at the Kuajok parish was presided over by Cardinal Gabriel Zuber Wako, Bishop of Wau Diocese, Bishop Mathew Remijo, Bishop of Tombura Yambio, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro.

In his speech, the prelate stated that the Kuajok – Yambio road will be a road of Peace, a road of development, food security, and economic exchange between the communities in the areas.

Bishop Eduardo also acknowledges the contribution of the Catholic Church in Nation building since the first president, the first female speaker of the National Legislative assembly, and many more leading personalities in the country are from the input of the Catholic calling upon the church and the government to work together.

Reflecting on the Pope’s Ecumenical visit to South Sudan, the bishop called upon all the South Sudanese to let Pope’s message be a dictionary of National Peace Building.

Those who attended the celebration included President Kiir, Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, Speaker of the National Parliament, Jemma Nunu Kumba, and other senior officials from the state and national government.