AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - South Sudanese soldiers attack a Catholic church, killing a person whose body was carried away

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - Soldiers of the South Sudanese army attacked a church, killing a parishioner and carrying away his body. This happened in Our Lady of Assumption Parish Loa, in Magwi County, in the State of Eastern Equatoria, when soldiers from a unit of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) stationed in the area attacked the church on March 26 at around 5 p.m.
According to a statement from the Diocese of Torit dated April 3 and sent to Fides, "the soldiers opened fire without warning, killing one civilian and injuring another one." The bullets hit the walls and windows of the rectory.
"In an attempt to conceal their action," the statement continued, "the soldiers carried away and hid the body and covered the blood on the ground with soil in order to remove any forensic evidence. Till today, the whereabouts of the body is unknown." "During the intrusion, church personnel, working staff, and residents of the area were subjected to intimidation, threats, and questioning," the diocese reports.
Monsignor Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta, Bishop of Torit, condemns the intrusion into church property and the "grave violation of its sanctity and neutrality" as well as "the security and the rights of our personnel" and calls for "an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident, the identification and accountability of the military personnel involved, as well as concrete assurances and clear protocols from the SSPDF to prevent similar incidents happening in the future." The bishop also requests "the release of the body to the relatives for mourning and decent burial" and "the deployment of security personnel by the State of Eastern Equatoria to protect the community of Loa, as well as a public apology to the Diocese of Torit for the attack that occurred." (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 3/4/2025)

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