The Bishop of Pacong diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Joseph Maker Atot, has been on the run since Sunday because of threats on his life.
Speaking to TCT this morning on phone from Rumbek where he is looking for protection, he said some people went to his residence and asked him to leave Rumbek.
“There are people hunting for me everywhere. But seriously as bishop, a man of God, I have nothing to do with communal conflict…I am just working hard to bring peace among them, but those whose relatives have been killed are looking for my life in revenge”, said the bishop.
He says this is the result of the deadly and evil spirit of revenge killing which has invaded the people’s mind.
Pacong diocese is in Bahr el Ghazal cluster where the Kook communities often fight against each other. It happens that bishop Maker belongs to the Kook section. Last week, two chiefs and teachers were murdered in cold blood, prompting the fight on Tuesday, which led to the death of three people and injuries to others.
“Young men are hunting innocent people at night and even day time on revenge attacks. I have been on peace and reconciliation mission in the diocese, preaching the gospel of peace, love, unity and forgiveness since I came back from my long eye treatment in Nairobi, that kept me away from the diocese”, said Maker.
He says that in parts of the diocese, especially Cueicok and Maleng-agok where a paramount chief and a pregnant mother were killed in August, people are responding positively and the tension between Gony and Thuyic has come down, and people are able to walk freely. This was before conflict flared up in Pacong and Panawac districts, says Maker.
He said many of his pastors, those who are from Kook community have run away since the crisis started, but he remained in the diocese to calm down people. But he says some people have now turned against him and he was made to run to Rumbek for protection.
He told TCT he will not run from Rumbek again even though he is still under threat. He added that the authorities know what is going on but no action has been taken yet to try and apprehend those people who have threatened his life.
The bishop said the security situation in the state has run out of hand, and crimes have increased.
“There is fighting almost everywhere in the state, it is only God who can help his people and bring peace.” he said.
The Bishop of Pacong diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Joseph Maker Atot, has been on the run since Sunday because of threats on his life.
Speaking to TCT this morning on phone from Rumbek where he is looking for protection, he said some people went to his residence and asked him to leave Rumbek.
“There are people hunting for me everywhere. But seriously as bishop, a man of God, I have nothing to do with communal conflict…I am just working hard to bring peace among them, but those whose relatives have been killed are looking for my life in revenge”, said the bishop.
He says this is the result of the deadly and evil spirit of revenge killing which has invaded the people’s mind.
Pacong diocese is in Bahr el Ghazal cluster where the Kook communities often fight against each other. It happens that bishop Maker belongs to the Kook section. Last week, two chiefs and teachers were murdered in cold blood, prompting the fight on Tuesday, which led to the death of three people and injuries to others.
“Young men are hunting innocent people at night and even day time on revenge attacks. I have been on peace and reconciliation mission in the diocese, preaching the gospel of peace, love, unity and forgiveness since I came back from my long eye treatment in Nairobi, that kept me away from the diocese”, said Maker.
He says that in parts of the diocese, especially Cueicok and Maleng-agok where a paramount chief and a pregnant mother were killed in August, people are responding positively and the tension between Gony and Thuyic has come down, and people are able to walk freely. This was before conflict flared up in Pacong and Panawac districts, says Maker.
He said many of his pastors, those who are from Kook community have run away since the crisis started, but he remained in the diocese to calm down people. But he says some people have now turned against him and he was made to run to Rumbek for protection.
He told TCT he will not run from Rumbek again even though he is still under threat. He added that the authorities know what is going on but no action has been taken yet to try and apprehend those people who have threatened his life.
The bishop said the security situation in the state has run out of hand, and crimes have increased.
“There is fighting almost everywhere in the state, it is only God who can help his people and bring peace.” he said.