First female Mayor of Yei, in the South-west of South Sudan killed

(Vatican Radio) There has been strong condemnation by the Church for the barbarous murder of the first female Mayor of Yei, in the South-west of South Sudan, Cecelia Oba Tito, whose body was found along with that of her chief of staff, Emmanuel Lemi, on 9 November in the vicinity of a house under construction on the outskirts of the capital, Juba.

Mgr. Zachariah Angutuwa Sebit, Vicar General of the Diocese of Yei, said that the double murder was an act against the people of Yei River County and, more generally, against peace in Southern Sudan.

According to information sent to Agenzia Fides, Mgr. Sebit added that the killers of the former mayor wanted to attack the Church. He has  asked the authorities to ensure the safety of citizens. Mrs. Tito was an active member of the Church in South Sudan and fought to promote women's rights in her Country, in particular access to education. After being elected deputy at the National Assembly, she participated in the drafting of the Constitution of Southern Sudan and in 2013 was elected mayor of Yei.

(e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va)