SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...
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Francis Prevost Elected as New Pope Leo XIV ‎

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Robert Francis Prevost, new pope. 


‎In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the United States has been elected as the new Pope. 

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‎He will now be known as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first-ever American to lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.

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‎The announcement was made after white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, signaling that the College of Cardinals had reached a decision. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.

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‎Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago in 1955, has a deep background in missionary service, particularly in Latin America. Before his election, he was serving as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and had spent several years working in Peru, where he was beloved for his humility and dedication to the poor.

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‎In his first public address, the new Pope called for global unity, peace, and deeper compassion for the marginalized. “Let us walk together as a Church of hope and healing,” he said from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

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‎The election of an American pope is significant, especially at a time when the Church is facing major global challenges, including declining membership in some regions, rising persecution of Christians in others, and growing demands for internal reform.

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‎For South Sudanese Catholics, this moment is both spiritual and symbolic. “We welcome Pope Leo XIV with open hearts,” said Fr. John Luka of the Archdiocese of Juba. “We pray that he will stand with the suffering people around the world, including here in South Sudan.”

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‎Pope Leo XIV takes the name “Leo” in honor of Pope Leo XIII, known for his work on social justice and labor rights perhaps a sign that this new pope intends to continue addressing poverty and inequality worldwide.

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‎Stay with us for continued updates on this developing story and what the new papacy could mean for the Church in Africa.

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SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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