Kiir threatens to pull out of Rome talks over highway killing of Catholic nuns

JUBA —  President Salva Kiir Mayardit has threatened to pullout of the ongoing Rome negotiations with holdout opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka following the highway ambush which resulted in the killing of at least five people including the Catholic nuns on Monday.

Yesterday, at least five people including Catholic nuns working in South Sudan were killed following an highway ambush suspected to be carried out by elements allied to Cirilo-led National Salvation Front.

The public was angered by the killing and the administration of the Catholic Churches in the capital Juba has announced a five-day mourning period in which daily mass prayers will be conducted for the during for the souls of those who died as results of the ambush.

In a statement, President Salva Kiir expressed anger and sadness over the killing.

“It is with heavy heart that I convey my condolences to his Grace the Right Reverend Dr. Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Juba, and the Congregation of Sacred Hearts, and the families of Sisters Mary Abud and Regina Roba who were callously murdered yesterday on the Juba-Nimule Highway,” Kiir said in the statement.

“My heart also goes out to other three innocent civilians who died on this cowardly attacked. The fact that sisters Mary Abud and Regina Roba were coming from the celebration of an important milestone of Christianity in our country: the centenary celebration of the Loa Parish did matter to these criminals,” he added.

He said the responsibility for the death of the Church members lies in the hand of the several holdout opposition groups which are negotiating end to the conflict with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and threatened to pullout of the Rome peace negotiations being spearheaded by the Sant’Egidio Community of Rome.

“The responsibility for their death lies squarely on the Holdout Groups, and the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity condemns this act of terror with the strongest terms possible. The Government signed the Rome Declaration, the Recommitment to Cessation of Hostilities and the Declaration of Principles with the Holdout Groups with the goal of stopping fighting and saving innocent lives,” angry Kiir said.

“Now that the non-signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement continue to violate these commitments, the Government may reconsider its position on the ongoing Sant’Egidio led Rome Initiative. Our pursuit of an inclusive peace should never be taken for a weakness and used as a window to kill the innocent,l he adds.

“While we mourn the departed, let us equally pray that God gives us the strength we need to overcome this traumatic experience. Let us also pray for the Church leadership to remain strong despite the shocking experience of this tragedy.”