Bishop Warns Parties Involved In Conflicts Not To Turn Them Into Tribal Wars

This article was last updated on May 25, 2022

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“I am hereby calling all parties involved in conflicts in South Sudan not to turn these conflicts into tribal wars. Do not point fingers towards any tribe; otherwise the whole of South Sudan will be destroyed,” Taban said in a release.

He appealed for a cease fire between the Government of South Sudan and the South Sudan Democratic Movement to pave way for peace talks to address the root cause of conflicts between warring parties.

He said that people need to understand grievances and use war resources to improve the quality of life of the citizen of South Sudan.

“Stop the bloodshed, we have lost enough lives! The people dying in this war between South Sudanese are not Dinka, Murle, Nuer, Toposa, Madi, Acholi or Bari; they are South Sudanese,” he said.

In February, this year, the Bishop; Emeritus Taban was named a winner of a U.N. peace prize in recognition of his efforts and accomplishments in building trust and peace between different communities in the Holy Trinity Peace Village in Kuron, Eastern Equatoria State.

He won the 2013 Sergio Vieira de Mello Prize for his work at the Holy Trinity Peace Village in Kuron, in the east of South Sudan.

Set up in 2005, the village brings together people from different tribes and faiths that have been in conflict for years over cattle rustling.

“The fact that this village is now seen as an example of reconciliation and peace will encourage other communities to follow a similar approach in other areas of conflict in South Sudan and beyond,” said Laurent Vieira de Mello, president of the prize foundation and eldest son of the late Sergio Vieira de Mello.

A Brazilian, Vieira de Mello, the U.N.’s former human rights chief, was killed in a bombing in Iraq in 2003.

The prize is awarded annually to an individual, community or institution seen as having made an exceptional contribution to reconciliation of communities or groups in conflict, and whose example can be duplicated elsewhere.

The jury included the U.N.’s refugee agency and human rights chiefs.

Taban finally received the award – which included a symbolic sum of 5,000 Swiss francs ($5,500, 4,000 euros) – from U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on 1 March 2013 ceremony in Geneva.

Following the announcement, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) extended its warm congratulations to the prominent South Sudanese actor for peace for being given a richly-deserved recognition of his efforts.

“The achievement of peace in the Holy Trinity Peace Village in Kuron by Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban is a model to be emulated in other hotspots of South Sudan. Its unifying potential is all the more vital for the future of the country,” said a statement from the UNMISS.

“The Bishop devoted himself selflessly during two decades of civil war, in some of the most trying situations serving communities, being one of their staunchest advocates, as well as reconciling them and promoting peace between them. This is a very well deserved recognition,” said the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for South Sudan, Ms Hilde F. Johnson.

The statement said that the award illustrates the timely need for all concerned to embark on a nationally owned and broadly represented process of national reconciliation and healing.

“It is the commitment of the United Nations to support such a process and help foster stability and peace in South Sudan. UNMISS remains actively engaged to help maintain a durable peace for the people of South Sudan, “UNMISS said.