18 May 2021
Statement by the Episcopal Church of South Sudan
The Diocese of Abyei sits in the most northern part of South Sudan, it is an area that experiences Islamic encroachments followed by harassment, intimidation and frequent attacks carried out by Arab Islamic militias.
Of the latest attack – over the last weekend – the Bishop of Abyei, the Right Reverend Michael Deng Bol, writes “I want to inform you that a village of Dungob-Alei 5km north-east of Abyei town has been barbarically attacked by militiamen of Sudan since around 5.30 am on Sunday 16 May, killing 13 people and wounding eight others. The fighting is still continuing up to now [late Monday night].
“This is not the first attack of its kind, in 2020 Kolom village (12km away from Abyei town) and Mabok Diil village(18km east of Abyei town) were also attacked in the same way with 38 killed and 22 wounded, together with the abduction of 17 children and burning down of 77 houses including our prayer centres and medical facilities.”
The Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, the Most Reverend Dr Justin Badi Arama, condemns such barbaric attacks and calls for an end to this senseless violence by the few in a country where Christians and Muslims live side by side. Your prayers for the people of the Diocese of Abyei are requested along with prayers for wisdom and protection for Bishop Michael Deng Bol as he ministers in this situation.
ENDS
NOTE: The Episcopal Church of South Sudan is one of the 41 national and regional independent-but-interdependent autonomous churches that make up the worldwide Anglican Communion.