War’s Visible Wounds in Malakal
Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala returned from Malakal with sobering impressions. He asked “anyone who longs for fighting to walk the streets there first,” arguing that shattered homes and grieving families speak louder than any speech (The Dawn Newspaper, 24 Nov 2025).
In the Protection of Civilians site, he met parents sharing tents with strangers, surviving on rations and hope. The city, once a trading hub rich in fertile cropland and oil transit links, now bears broken clinics, empty schools and stalled markets.
Clergy Call for Renewed Peace Efforts
Addressing the recent Bishops’ Conference, South Sudanese clergy urged authorities to “double every effort” toward a durable cease-fire. Their communique referenced Malakal as evidence that humanitarian corridors and political dialogue must advance together if reconstruction is to start.
Hiiboro also extended condolences to families hit by last week’s gunfire in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, emphasizing that security in distant counties remains intertwined with national stability.
Education Triumphs Amid Turmoil
Despite conflict, the bishop celebrated achievements at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Graduates from Yambio, including Father Luis and an electrician named Gbodoro, ranked near the top of their class, proving, he said, that “scarcity cannot defeat curiosity.”
He acknowledged financial hurdles that limited attendance at the ceremony, yet insisted that investment in classrooms today will reduce dependence on relief camps tomorrow.
Solidarity Visits Across Borders
Hiiboro travelled onward to Sudan, joining Bishop Stephen and other clergy to listen to refugees’ testimonies of displacement. Bishop Triller asked that “these stories be amplified,” while logistical issues prevented Bishop Didi’s participation.
The delegation’s cross-border outreach underscored the church’s intent to accompany communities wherever violence has scattered them, offering pastoral care alongside non-sectarian relief.
Hopeful Paths to Stability
Concluding his tour, the bishop encouraged South Sudanese leaders to prioritise inclusive governance, citing the region’s mineral wealth and agricultural potential as incentives for peace. He urged faithful to combine prayer with civic engagement.
The Diocese of Tambura-Yambio now prepares new pastoral missions informed by Malakal’s lessons, seeking to turn empathy into action as the nation edges toward 2024 elections.