World Council of Churches urges for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan – Vatican News

by Lisa Zengarini

As violent fighting between rival armed military groups continues in Sudan, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has called for an immediate end to armed hostilities for the sake of the suffering Sudanese people.

one in statement released on MondayWCC General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillai expressed “deep sadness” at the sudden escalation of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which was de facto loyal to President General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Force. (RSF), formerly infamous Janjaweed militia led by his deputy, General Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo.

According to the United Nations, more than 180 people were killed.

The clashes broke out on April 15 after months of heightened tensions between the two former allies in a military coup that slated Sudan’s transition to democratic rule until October 2021 after ousting longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Both have exchanged. are blamed for starting the violence, which has killed at least 144 civilians (185 according to UN sources), with at least 1,400 injured, including three from the World Food Program (WFP).

Fierce fighting has forced the suspension of many schools, health facilities, markets and other basic services in the country, as well as vital humanitarian work.

WCC’s concern for the impact of violence on the population

In the statement, Reverend Pillai expressed the WCC’s deep concern about the widespread impact of the violence on the Sudanese population, which “already faces severe impacts of critical humanitarian needs, political and economic challenges, high rates of inflation, widespread poverty and Climate change.”

The WCC, therefore, calls for an immediate ceasefire for the sake of the Sudanese people and reiterates its November 2021 appeal “urging Sudan’s de facto military authorities to take back the control they illegally seized in October 2021 was, and the democratic path to return Sudan from which it had been unjustly diverted”.

Prayerful solidarity with the people and the Church in Sudan

Expressing prayerful closeness to the families of the victims and injured, Reverend Pillai concluded by inviting “international ecumenical solidarity, support and prayer for the Churches of Sudan” and praying that “May God grant peace and restore stability to Sudan”. Do”.

A long history of civil war in Sudan

The WCC appeal joins a chorus of global voices, including the United States, the African Union and major Arab states, calling for the resumption of talks aimed at permanently ending the violence and restoring a civilian government in the country. Does

Sudan has a long history of internal war, instability and human rights violations, which have continued since the independence of South Sudan in 2011, and the overthrow of longtime autocrat and suspected war criminal Omar al-Bashir in a military coup. Continued even after throwing up. In 2019.

The two strongmen of the new military regime set to be installed in October 2021 disagree on how to restore civilian rule in Sudan, and especially on a deadline for bringing the RFS paramilitary force into the army.

General Dagalo claims to represent marginalized groups against the country’s elite, but his former Janjaweed militia has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing during the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur.