Churches In Sudan Condemn Abyei Violence

Sudan Churches have condemned last month’s violence in Abyei area, committed by the Sudanese government after ordering military forces to burn down civilian’s homes and to illegally occupy the oil rich region.

In a statement, “We the leaders of the Catholic and the Episcopal churches in the Sudan are sad that the region of Abyei is back to war. On behalf of all the Christians across the Country, we categorically denounce the recent fighting that took place in Abyei town, as thousands of men, women and children were forced again to a mass exodus as witnessed during the decade-long civil war.

“These same civilians have been displaced several times because of belligerence between different clusters of the Sudan Armed Forces, SAF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, SPLA during the war and in a time when resettlement has taken place,” the statement continued.

It also underscored the difficulties in resolving the status of Abyei politically but there was no excuse for whatever reasons for the witnessed violence. “There is no excuse for endangering the lives of innocent people, mindless destruction of homes and livelihoods,” it stated.

The Churches blamed lack of seriousness of CPA partners for failing to care for their citizens.

“As the Church, through the voice of God and moral conscience of the nation, we are very concerned about the violence which has claimed many innocent lives in Abyei and rendered many people homeless at the time when the hope of our people is growing high for the independence and the birth of our God given nation,” it stated.

The church urged the leadership to withdraw issued decrees that crippled local governance and impeded humanitarian efforts and the subsequent occupation of Abyei. “We call for immediate action from the Sudan Government and the Government of Southern Sudan to break the deadlock and to initiate negotiations and peace talks once again, with the help of the regional partners, United Nations and all those Countries who witnessed the signing of the CPA.

The statement was on Sunday 31st May signed in Juba by Paolino Lukudu Loro the Archbishop of Juba and Metropolitan Archbishop of Southern Sudan; it was also signed on behalf of Episcopal Church by Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul the Archbishop and primate of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan.

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