Nun killed in Congo; Ugandan bishop urges talks with rebels
January 19, 2011
A Congolese nun, Sister Jeanne Yemgane, was shot and killed by rebels who assaulted the vehicle in which she was traveling on January 13.
Sister Yemgane, had been the superior of a St. Augustine congregation in Dungu; she was working as a nurse and traveling with other health-care personnel when the car was attacked. Witnesses said that the gunmen were members of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a militia group that has launched attacks on civilians in several countries of central Africa and has been accused of multiple war crimes.
In a related development, Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, Uganda, called for new efforts to negotiate with LRA leaders. Archbishop Odama, whose archdiocese is located in the region of northern Uganda where the LRA began operations, said that military operations against the group had proven fruitless, and African leaders should try instead to “touch the humanity” of the rebel leader, Joseph Kony. The archbishop has frequently denounced LRA tactics and challenged Kony to join in negotiations—to date, without success.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Nun doctor killed by Congo rebels (CathNewsAsia)
- LRA: Ugandan bishop urges negotiated settlement (BBC)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!