AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - In Yei, hundreds of young people devastated by the violence and say "no to tribalism"

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 tribalism  

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - A no to tribalism and violence comes from Yei, the city of Equatoria, South Sudan, which was hit by a wave of murders and massacres attributed to mixed military-civilian armed groups that target suspected supporters of former Vice President Riek Machar (see Fides 30/08/2016). Nearly one hundred people from all sixty four tribes in South Sudan attended a two day workshop in Yei on tribalism, according to the news sent to Fides.
"Our tribes in South Sudan like violence, revenge, looting by using arms, and hate. This old phenomenon must be forgotten", said Yei Episcopal Bishop Hillary Luate Adeba, who, addressing young people, said: "Some people are using you as tools for their own benefit and you continuously remain poor and hungry behaving on behalf of somebody whose stomach is big and has a fat bank account. Say no to such people".
The young participants have denounced the fact that social media are used to spread tribal hatred and that older people often incite them to violence and vengeance in the name of tribalism.
The political conflict between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar has taken a tribal dimension since the two politicians belong to different ethnic groups. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 31/08/2016)


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