The Catholic bishop of Tombura-Yambio Diocese in South Sudan has renewed calls for truth and accountability as the country marks the anniversary of the disappearance of a priest and his driver, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala said in a pastoral message issued April 27 that the case of Rev. Fr. Luke Yugue and his driver, Michael Gbeko, remains unresolved years after their reported abduction along the Nagero–Tambura road in Western Equatoria state.
“Years have passed, yet the questions remain unanswered. The pain has not faded, and the longing for truth continues,” the bishop said.
According to the message marking the third anniversary of their disappearance, the two men went missing on April 27, 2024, in what the bishop described as “a wound that refuses to heal.”
Hiiboro said the disappearance was not only a loss for the Church but also a matter of national concern, urging authorities to act.
“Their disappearance is not a private loss. It is a national wound. It is a moral test for our society,” he said, calling on government institutions “to deliver justice” and uphold their responsibility to citizens.
“We need truth, not silence. We need accountability, not uncertainty,” he added.
The bishop described Yugue as a servant of the Gospel who worked for peace and reconciliation, while Gbeko supported that mission. He said their disappearance reflects a broader pattern of unresolved cases across South Sudan.
“We remember not only Fr. Luke and Michael, but all those across our nation who have disappeared,” he said. “Many families continue to cry in silence.”
Hiiboro also appealed to the international community to remain engaged in efforts to establish the truth and support justice. He thanked those who have shown solidarity while urging continued action.
In the message, he directed that annual Holy Masses be held every April 27 in remembrance of the missing men and others who have disappeared, with prayers dedicated to justice, peace and national healing.
“To the families of the disappeared, we say: you are not alone. The Church walks with you. We carry your pain in our prayers,” he said.
Hiiboro concluded his message with a call for perseverance: “Silence will not prevail. Truth will not be buried. Justice will not be denied forever.”
Separately, civil society activist Edmund Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the disappearance constituted a serious crime requiring urgent government action.
“This was an intentional attack on the Church and faith leaders by individuals with criminal intent,” Yakani said. “It is the primary responsibility of the state to ensure justice and accountability prevail.”
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