SUDAN: Sustainable Solution Towards Sudan Conflict Calls for Collaboration by Various Actors
Representions for the Ecumenical joint message
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Following the protracted conflict that erupted in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the month of April, Church officials from different ecumenical organizations based in Africa and their international partners have asked various actors to play their role and collaborate towards realization of a sustainable solution for the North-eastern African country of Sudan.
In their joint statement issued Saturday, June 24, on the situation of the country, the church organizations who are cognizant that Sudan is a member of the Arab League, the African Union and the United Nations whose principle is to advocate for the peaceful settlement of disputes within and among members have asked the regional governments to, “To build and create alternative spaces for civil society and other non-state actors to help in bringing sustainable solutions to the situation in Sudan.”
They have further asked these regional governments to, “facilitate unrestricted movement of and support to the refugees and to also work with the AU (African Union) and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority for Development) to fast track the peace process and push for a return to democratic civilian rule.”
The ecumenical organizations based in Africa and international partners who were represented at a virtual meeting in the month of May and later developed the statement comprised of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the Association Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA), the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA), the ACT Church of Sweden (CoS), Bread for the World (BfW) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).
Addressing the Sudanese citizens in their message after listening to the current evolving situation on how the local partners continue facing threats and the daily destruction of institutions, the Church bodies ask citizens “to remain vigilant against being instrumentalized for conflict and division, and to reject all forms of violence.”
The citizens were urged to “stand up and collectively and peacefully demand sustainable solutions to end the current violence and to continuously extend the hand of mercy and love to all, especially to those who have gravely suffered the consequences of violence, irrespective of their social, ethnic, religious and political identity and affiliation.”
According to the officials in their letter signed by four representatives including Fr. Anthony Makunde the Secretary General of AMECEA, “Sudan is a party to many protocols and conventions that promote human rights for all without discrimination.”
To the AU and IGAD members who are partners towards the realization of a sustainable solution, the church representatives asked them “to apply all the existing mechanisms for peace interventions to facilitate constructive intra Sudanese engagements for the purpose of finding local solutions.”
“Define and apply appropriate diplomatic pressure including selected sanctions and membership suspension of Sudan (as you) work together with the Arab League, to reignite the Juba peace process and take immediate action to stop repetition of genocide in Darfur and other war crimes and crimes against humanity,” reads part of the Saturday statement.
To the parties in conflict, SAF and RSF, the church officials strongly condemn all forms and acts of violence by all parties highlighting that, “such acts are against the fullness of life of God’s people.”
They have cautioned the warring parties “To commit and return to the negotiation table by relooking at the divergent points between the 2019 Charter and 2021 Juba Agreement with the purpose of determining the common areas of actions and to respect and protect the places of worship and condemn all acts of violence and destruction that have been targeting churches and church-based institutions.”
Additionally, the parties causing conflict in Sudan are called upon to “protect the children, women and people with disability from all forms of harm, to ensure that places of essential services including health centers and schools are not targeted and to also facilitate speedy, structured and all-acceptable return to civilian rule in the country.”
They have echoed the message by the Holy Father to the warring parties emphasizing that they lay down arms and call for dialogue and a call to the international community to spare no effort to ensure that dialogue might prevail and the suffering of the population be alleviated.”
They promise their commitment to pray for peace and support all efforts for sustainable peace and stabilization of the country.
