By Sabri Dibaco
Central Equatoria State Caretaker Governor Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani has called on parishioners to promote peace, unity, and security as the state prepares for the upcoming elections.
Governor Jadalla made the call on Sunday while joining hundreds of Catholic faithful at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Gumbo, Juba, for the celebration of the parish feast.
Addressing the congregation, Governor Jadalla said his immediate responsibility as caretaker governor is to prepare Central Equatoria for the elections while maintaining peace and security.
“We have come to prepare our people for elections and ensure that peace and security prevail,” Governor Jadalla said in the statement.
He urged citizens to work together with the government to address challenges facing the state, saying dialogue should be preferred over conflict.
The governor also encouraged citizens to participate in the elections and exercise their right to choose their preferred candidates. He called on young people to reject drug abuse and focus on education.
Governor Jadalla further emphasised that maintaining security is a shared responsibility between the government and citizens.
The feast was celebrated under the theme “Serving Christ in the Poor.”
Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, His Lordship Santo Loku Pio, who led the service and administered confirmation to new faithful, urged Christians to demonstrate their faith through good deeds and service to people in need.
Bishop Pio called on Christians to pray and work for peace in South Sudan, saying peace requires people to seek forgiveness and demonstrate their faith through service to others.
He also encouraged the faithful to extend the spirit of the celebration beyond the church by helping the poor and contributing to peace and reconciliation in their communities.
The St. Vincent de Paul feast comes as South Sudan prepares for the scheduled elections, with religious and political leaders continuing to call for peace, unity, and peaceful participation in the electoral process.