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Catholic bishop in Sudan seriously injured in assault by Rapid Forces

December 6, 2024 Catholic News Agency 0
Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku of Sudan’s El Obeid Diocese. / Credit: CRN

ACI Africa, Dec 6, 2024 / 10:55 am (CNA).

The bishop of the Diocese of El-Obeid in Sudan has shared his harrowing experience at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who tortured him and left him seriously injured.

Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali, who was accompanied by a deacon, fell into the hands of the paramilitary force while he was traveling to the embattled country.

He shared his horrific experience with Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of South Sudan’s Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, who shared the report with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, on Dec. 1. Neither bishop was available to provide more details of where the bishop and the deacon were travelling from when they met their assailants.

In the report, Tombe Trille, a former president of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, wrote about how he and the deacon were first harassed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), who are in conflict with the RSF in the country’s worst civil war, which is ongoing.

He wrote to Hiiboro, saying: “I just arrived in El Obeid together with Deacon Joseph. This time, I was badly treated.”

He reported: “From the side of the army, some little cash in USD was taken on pretext that I was carrying the forbidden hard currency.”

After the harassment by the SAF, the two ran into the RSF, who beat up the bishop and left him for dead. 

“On the side of Rapid Forces, I was given countless heavy blows on the neck, forehead, on my face and two sides of my head,” the bishop said.

When he wrote to his fellow bishop, Tombe Trille said he was so seriously injured that he could not move his jaws. “I can’t bite food,” he said. 

“Together with [Deacon Joseph], we narrowly missed martyrdom [before] one leader said, ‘That is enough,’” he said in his note to Hiiboro, in which he also expressed gratitude for the “prayers of many.” 

This is not the first time Tombe Trille has stared death in the face as war rages on in Sudan, where he has been serving since he was ordained a member of the clergy of El-Obeid 33 years ago.

On April 20, 2023, just five days after fighting between SAF and RSF erupted, the 60-year-old bishop and some other clergy narrowly escaped death when rockets hit the premises of his cathedral, destroying the main gate of Mary Queen of Africa Cathedral and the priests’ residence.

The incident is said to have occurred when the bishop of El-Obeid and the priests were praying. Thankfully no one was injured.

Tombe Trille has been vocal about the Sudanese war that has reportedly led to tens of thousands of deaths and massive displacements, questioning the willingness of the warring parties to lay down their weapons.

The war, now in its second year, has reportedly led to 61,202 deaths, according to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Sudan Research Group, which also reported that 26,024 of those killed died from direct injuries owing to the conflict.

In an interview with ACI Africa last year, Tombe Trille lamented that dialogue between the two opposing forces had been given a wide berth, saying: “So far there is not even a clue to the light of peace dialogue that can bring hope for the Sudanese.”

“I believe that our leaders are not ready for peace. Fighting and conflict have the upper hand as we hear them say, ‘Unless we defeat the other group we won’t put down weapons,’” he said.

The bishop cautioned that “the more the fighting, the more people get scattered” and “the more hatred grows among various Sudanese ethnic groups.”

He appealed for prayers, noting that the humanitarian situation in the country was dire.

He further appealed to the people of neighboring South Sudan to share the little they have with the Sudanese who are fleeing the conflict and to make the refugees feel at home. 

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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News Briefs

Vandals target Nativity scene in Lebanon

December 2, 2024 Catholic News Agency 0
Christmas tree and Nativity scene in Faraya’s Public Square, a town in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon, in November 2024. / Credit: Municipality of Faraya

ACI MENA, Dec 2, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

A gun was placed near a Nativity scene on Nov. 23 in the town of Faraya in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon in the country of Lebanon, sparking outrage among locals.

Residents gathered in the town square ringing the church bells in protest. Security forces have been assisting in efforts to calm the tensions.

The vandals acted at night, removing the statue of the Baby Jesus and leaving a handgun nearby.

Keserwan District is reputed to be the stronghold of Lebanon’s Maronite Catholics. It is home to significant landmarks such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke. 

Many see the act as an attempt to wreak havoc during the Advent season in a country currently hosting a large number of displaced people from war-torn regions. Others are awaiting the results of the investigation, according to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner.

Christmas tree and Nativity scene in Faraya's Public Square, a town in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon, in November 2024. Credit: The Municipality of Faraya
Christmas tree and Nativity scene in Faraya’s Public Square, a town in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon, in November 2024. Credit: The Municipality of Faraya

A parish priest’s appeal

Regardless of the motives behind the act, the incident provoked widespread anger.

Father Charbel Salameh, a parish priest, joined residents in the town square condemning the vandalism and reassuring locals at the same time.

In a brief video, he said: “We will remain vigilant in protecting our village. We hold on to preserving our unity and harmony, for the Lord brings us together. Perhaps this is an opportunity for all of us to gather here and pray in front of this Nativity scene for those trying to sow discord.”

He continued: “Let us not jump to conclusions: May God forgive those attempting to destabilize us. We are here to stay — this is our land, and this is our area. As children of the Church, we pray for whoever committed this act to understand that our sacred places cannot be easily violated.”

“What happened calls for great awareness because impulsiveness can harm us in circumstances as such. We pray that the Lord Jesus brings peace to the hearts and minds of the people and our country, Lebanon, in these difficult times,” he said.

Following the incident, Salameh replaced the missing statue of the Baby Jesus with another one from St. Charbel Church to temporarily fill the void. Security forces arrived on the scene, cordoned off the area, and launched investigations to analyze the circumstances and identify the perpetrators.

The statement of the municipality

The Municipality of Faraya clarified the circumstances of the incident in a statement:

“On Saturday, at 6 p.m., a citizen was taking photos of his grandchildren in front of the Nativity scene in the town square. Surprisingly, the children found a handgun lying on the ground. The man informed nearby shopkeepers. A municipal officer arrived at the square, inspected the site, and contacted security forces, who arrived promptly.”

The statement continued: “Upon investigation, the statue of Baby Jesus was found outside the Nativity scene, among nearby trees. Security forces confiscated the gun and began their investigation, concluding that the statue was not in the manger at the time children were taking photos. This proves that the incident occurred before the children and their grandfather arrived. The photos of the children in question confirm those allegations.”

“In light of these events, the Municipality of Faraya urges the residents and all inhabitants to remain united in brotherhood and love, as has always been the case. Faraya has long been a symbol of coexistence and a model for promoting peace, security, and hospitality,” the statement concludes.

A record of attacks

Last year, a series of attacks on Christmas symbols in Lebanon occurred, particularly in the northern region of Tripoli, home to an active Christian minority. These attacks ranged from dousing a tree with gasoline at St. George’s Church in Mina to throwing a Molotov cocktail at another tree in St. George’s Church square in Zaheriyah. 

At the time, these unprecedented acts in the culturally and religiously diverse city were met with widespread condemnation from political, religious, and social leaders of various affiliations.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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