CEPO condemns extrajudicial killing of Tambura Catholic priest

JUBA – The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), a South Sudanese civil society watchdog, has condemned the extrajudicial killing of a Catholic priest in Tambura County, Western Equatoria State.

Pastor Luka Yudue of the Nagero Catholic Parish and his boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) driver were found dead after going missing while traveling from Nagero to Tambura County.

The killing follows recent violence between local communities in Tambura. Unverified reports accuse Governor Alfred Futuyo of instigating the violence.

CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani condemned the priest’s killing and the ongoing violence in a statement.

“CEPO strongly condemned the negative development in Tombura County of Western Equatoria State. For the last two days in Tombura County, there was deadly violence that led to the displacement of people in Tombura Town,” he said.

“The extrajudicial killing of pastor Luka Yudue is a disturbing, and also a negative development,” he added.

The civil society activist further urged Western Equatoria State’s leadership to address the deteriorating situation and called on President Salva Kiir to declare a state of emergency in Tambura County.

“CEPO is urging the political leadership of Western Equatoria State to prevent the situation from getting into worse, and CEPO is urging H.E. president to declare a state of emergency in Tombura,” Yakani said.

“The armed groups this deadly negative development should be aware that we are documenting their actions, and we will campaign for them to be held accountable,” he concluded.