Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro leads a mass in Juba, South Sudan on Dec. 15, 2014. Photo AFP

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN - The retired Catholic archbishop of South Sudan, Paulino Lukudu Loro, died Monday in Nairobi at the age of 80. The archbishop served for 30 years and was hailed by many in South Sudan for his efforts to promote peace during the country's long civil war.

The Reverend Father Samuel Abe, spokesperson for the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, said Archbishop Loro was rushed to Kenya’s capital last month when his condition started deteriorating.

“First of all, last Saturday he had a very severe stroke which affected his dying and so it escalated into instability of his blood pressure and today the pressure just went down, and it is the cause of the death; primarily it is the stroke on his head,” Abe said.

Abe said Loro’s death has left a great void, because he was a key player in advising political leaders on how to achieve peace in South Sudan.

“It’s very clear as a peacemaker, a man of peace, he always advises people to take the interest of the country above our personal and our individual interests," Abe said. "And so, his words are still I think in our minds, his words are still with us and it’s up to us to put all his endeavors (and) his initiatives into practice, especially the political leaders, (and) the religious leaders of this country.”

Abe said he wished Loro had witnessed peace in South Sudan before his death but noted that people are still fighting and still dying.

Eli Joseph, youth chairperson at St. Kizito Parish, said Loro played a significant peacemaking role among various factions during the years when South Sudan was fighting for its independence from Sudan.

During South Sudan’s more recent civil war, Simon Gore, youth coordinator at St. Theresa Cathedral, said he remembers Bishop Loro for his boldness in telling the truth to the warring leaders.

“The peace process, he was not favoring any side, when he feels that there is slowness in implementation, he approached both of the partners and aired out his voice, and the right thing that they should be doing in order for his flocks not to suffer,” Gore said.

Loro was appointed archbishop of Juba on February 19, 1983, and served in this office until his retirement last year.

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu announced a four-day mourning period due to Loro’s death. It is not clear when Loro will be buried. - Winnie Cirino, Voice of America

Photo Radio Tamazuj

Ugandan truck drivers destined for South Sudan have parked their trucks at the Elegu border town in protest of the recent highway killings, as they demanded security guarantees from the South Sudanese government.

This followed shortly after South Sudanese authorities handed over the bodies of four Ugandan drivers who were killed in Lainya County along the Yei-Juba road last week. In another incident, two people were killed and trucks burned along the Juba-Nimule road late last week. 

Zansa Moses, the chairperson of the Ugandan community in Eastern Equatoria State told Radio Tamazuj that the Ugandan traders demand security escorts for them to resume their businesses.

“It has been like three days or four days back when the drivers were attacked along the Juba Nimule highway. It is a strike that they want the government of South Sudan to provide them with security such that they move comfortably, give them maybe the patrol, security to escort them from Nimule up to Juba, that is the fear they have," he said.

Moses announced the strike will continue until authorities address the security concerns along the major highway. 

Captain David Khasmiro, the Inspector of Police in Nimule town confirmed that the strike has been ongoing since Saturday. 

“They are striking due to the recent incident along the highway that is why they say they now have no security in the country. But the vehicles that carry perishable goods like tomatoes are moving one by one. The strike has gone on for three days from Saturday up to now,” Khasmiro confirmed. 

The Juba-Nimule road is the main import route for goods and services from Uganda and Kenya into landlocked South Sudan. 

“There will be a huge impact from this strike. Some traders will hike the prices of goods for things like building items and flour. There is a negotiation at the national level and it will be addressed soon,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the Deputy spokesperson for South Sudan National Police James Dak said the striking drivers also demand justice.

“The best way forward is to establish an escort convoy from Juba to Nimule when the trucks take off and then when they return from Nimule to Juba as well as in the Yei road," he said. "I think this will be the strategic measures that will be taken as you know our land is landlocked and we are depending on Mombasa and those of Uganda for our daily sustainability. So it is a serious issue and it is being addressed,” he assured. 

South Sudan Inspector General of Police General Majak Akech said the issue is being handled and the standoff will soon be resolved.

In a statement last Friday, the South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation condemned the attacks. 

“We believe that pockets of rebel groups who are opposed to the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan are behind these unnecessary deadly attacks. South Sudan is always indebted to Uganda and \Kenya for their un-wavering demonstration of solidarity with the people of South Sudan," the statement read in part.

The government further said it would work with Uganda and Kenya to address the atrocities.

But the holdout opposition group, the National Salvation Front, has distanced itself from the attacks and instead blamed government soldiers. - Radio Tamazuj