Stop hate speech on social media to end violence, says South Sudan bishop

A Catholic bishop in violence-ridden South Sudan has called for an immediate stop to hate messages on social media.

"There are too many hate messages on social media", said Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio in a statement to Fides.

"We live in a climate of insecurity that has led to great losses of innocent human life, the destruction of property, displacement, unrest, hunger and suffering of all kinds", he said. "We can no longer bear this situation, we have to do something to end the violence".

Bishop Kussala said a stop to hate speech that is constantly circulating on social media is the first steps is to stop violence in one of the world's poorest countries. South Sudan is also the newest, currently celebrating its tenth anniversary of independence from the Republic of Sudan to the north.

The reorganization of power has been mostly cosmetic, and actual power remains concentrated around the presidency and a few security and military establishments.

Recently, uncertainty and violence have soared in the East African country of 13.78 million people. In this month, at least 32 people were reported dead in the clashes.

Identity-related revenge attacks and elite proxy wars currently taking place in South Sudan are connected to political and military factions, social forces which are fighting for control with the government forces of President Salva Kiir in the oil-rich country.

"On social platforms we read a lot of hate messages in which South Sudanese insult each other and the world sees us as a group of enemies. This mentality undermines unity and coexistence,” the bishop said.

"Inadequate security, poverty and a lack of a culture of peace are factors that encourage violence", he said, calling on all religious leaders to encourage behavior that stops violence.

Bishop Kussala sees signs of hope in the "encouraging dialogue promoted by the Vatican between the government of national unity and the opposition groups, as well as in the desire to repatriate refugees.

The government needs our appreciation and support in the difficult process of implementing the peace agreement", he said.

In July, the Roman community of Sant'Egidio hosted the peace talks between the current transitional government of national unity in South Sudan and the movements that had not signed the previous agreements.

Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, have in a joint statement marking ten years since South Sudan's independence, appealed to political leaders to do more for the good of their people.

"Your nation is blessed with immense potential, and we encourage you to make even greater efforts to enable your people to enjoy the full fruits of independence," they said in a statement issued by the Holy See Press Office.

South Sudan formally became independent from Sudan on July 9, 2011, following a protracted war of independence.

South Sudan enjoyed two years of peace but political rivalry soon erupted once again into open conflict in 2013 when President Kiir, a Dinka, fired Machar, from the Nuer ethnic group, from the vice presidency.

Since then political and ethnic violence killed hundreds of thousands and caused more than 2 million to flee the country.