The families of missing persons, humanitarian partners and government officials in Central Equatoria State’s Yei River County on Friday commemorated the International Day of the Disappeared under the theme “Every Missing Person Has a Story, Keep the Hope Alive.”
The day, observed globally every August 30, aims to raise awareness about the fate of missing persons, support families left behind, and promote efforts to prevent disappearances. It also emphasizes the right of families to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.
Rev. Peter Mawa Aarona, representing the Anglican Bishop of Yei, called for lasting peace in the country as a way of preventing abductions and the disappearance of people.
“As a church, we are standing for peace in our country because when there is peace, there would be nothing like someone has been taken or disappeared without knowing their whereabouts, but it happens because there is a problem in our country,” he said.
For his part, Ajania Amude, Acting Director of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in Yei, appealed to the public to report cases of missing persons and to actively seek available avenues to trace their loved ones rather than remaining silent.
“If someone disappeared, you need to remember them because there are people who do not remember when a person is lost. If you have a person who got lost or disappeared, you need to have the heart to say my relative is lost and start looking for him or her,” he said. “When a missing person is found, bring the report immediately because some people tend to keep silent. As for the children, when they come back, instead of reporting, they thank God without alerting the authorities.”
Meanwhile, Noel Laku, a formerly disappeared person, recounted how he was taken from his home, remained missing for years, and how he was eventually reunited with his family after a long process of tracing during the prolonged conflict.
“I was taken from my home at night. I heard people knocking at my door, and upon opening, I saw many people,” he narrated. “I told my wives to remain at home and tell my father that some people have taken me. I stayed in the bush since 2013, and I am now reunited with my family.”
Speaking on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the South Sudan Red Cross, Patrick Muoro, ICRC Head of Sub-Delegation for Greater Yei, emphasized the importance of the day and called for collective responsibility to ensure no more people go missing.
“This helps raise awareness about the plight of missing people. The ICRC is calling for the visibility of the phenomenon of disappearance in Africa and further international efforts to prevent and respond to the issues of missing people, particularly in this region,” he stated. “The issue of missing people and the plight of families of missing persons must be acknowledged by authorities, community and society at large; it must not be forgotten.”
Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo called for collective efforts and a greater sense of humanity and urged communities to avoid betraying one another in ways that could lead to people going missing.
“We are all to blame because there are reasons for that in the family, community, and even the government,” he said. “For such to stop, let us have humanity, because with humanity, you cannot do such acts. You may be a religious person but without humanity.”
According to the ICRC, more than 6,277 missing-person cases were registered in South Sudan from January to June this year. The total number of cases across the country has now surpassed 12,000
Stakeholders said ending conflict, strengthening community policing, and improving reporting mechanisms are key to reducing disappearances and bringing answers.
The event held at the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) Guest House in Yei brought together families searching for their loved ones and other stakeholders to reflect on the plight of people who have gone missing due to conflict, violence, and other circumstances.
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