UNMISS Rwandan troops participated in the “Christmas Carols for Peace”, an inter-faith group event organized by the Catholic Diocese of Torit and the Inter Church Committee at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Catholic Parish. The occasion brought hundreds of people together.

Two Rwandan choirs representing different denominations sang four Christmas songs delivering messages of peace as part of an UNMISS effort to promote its mandate.

Father Noel, the parish priest, was one of the organizers of the event. He said the Christmas carols are meant to encourage people to think about the meaning of peace and love this Christmas, given the dire situation in the country.

 He said South Sudan is in desperate need for peace to prevail at this time.

“We might have everything in South Sudan but we don’t have one thing and that one thing is peace”, Father Noel said.

The UNMISS Head of Field Office, Mary Cummins, commended the effort of the various churches to build the path to reconciliation, forgiveness and peace amongst the different communities in the region.

Ms. Cummins said the all warring parties must lay down arms and contribute to the development of the country.

“We need to see an end to the violence, to the ambushes, to the indiscriminate shooting and attacks on civilians in their homes and as they travel along the roads. The suffering and injustice created by all parties to the conflict must be addressed”, she said.

Reverend Peter Leiwat, a representative of the Inter Church Committee in Torit, urged all congregations and the government to work hard to develop the region and improve service delivery.

 “Government, security is your responsibility. Politicians, let us come back and forgive one another for the development of this country”, he said.