Bul intellectuals saddened by deadly attack on traditional party in Mayom

KHARTOUM – South Sudan’s Bul Intellectuals’ Forum has said in a statement that it is saddened by a deadly attack at a party in Mayom county of the country’s oil-rich Unity state that killed unconfirmed number of people.

Last week, unknown gunmen stormed a traditional party attended by a renowned traditional religious leader killing and wounding several people in an area in Mayom county.

In a statement dated August 30 and extended to Sudans Post, the Bul Intellectuals’ Forum said it is saddened by the continued killing and deplored the unstable security situation in the country as whole calling for unity as country struggle to settle communal and political conflicts.

“On behalf of the Bul Intellectuals Forum (BIF) and the entire membership, I would like to express our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family of the Bul Spiritual Leader, Thiang Wieh Geng and all families who have lost loved ones to the last week’s attack in Mayom County, South Sudan and may their souls rest in eternal peace. The Bul Intellectuals Forum is deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of lives, lawlessness and lack of respect for human lives,” the statement signed by the organization’s chairperson William Pay Tuoy partly read.

“The onslaught on our people at home is very painful to the entire Bul Community as well as the Nuer community at large because there are no winners or losers in this game, especially when it comes to constant revenge attacks against one another.  Thus, the community has lost many great sons and daughters whose lives were cut short by these senseless localized conflicts,” it added.

The statement further called for immediate actions to address communal issues that always culminate into deadly violence.

“Given the magnitude of the recent attacks and those prior, it is very clear that something needs to be done in order for Bul Community members to live in peace and harmony. It is our hope that Bul Community will lead the way in curtailing the violence in our beloved homeland,” it said.

“We therefore share in the same grief at this difficult time and pray to the Almighty God who ‘heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalms 147:3)’ to continue giving you courage at this time of despair. May God rest their souls in eternal peace,” the statement further added.