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Catholic World News News Feature

Sudan's Christians celebrate peace accord July 12, 2005

Christians in Sudan are celebrating the signing of a power-sharing constitution, which guarantees them key benefits, including the freedom of worship, if its put into action. Sudan's President Omar Bashir signed the power-sharing constitution, moments before the Dr. John Garang, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), a Christian, was sworn in as vice-president for a united Sudan. Garang will also become the president of southern Sudan. "For 22 years, there has been a lot of bloodshed and lies, but let us pray and forgive; Sudan has entered a new era," the Rev. Eluzai Lemi, an Anglican cleric, told a jubilant congregation in the southern Sudan town of Juba. President Bashir has also lifted the state of emergency he imposed in the country in 1999-- although this does not cover Darfur and the two other eastern states. Christians in northern Sudan, where Islamic law has applied since the country's independence, hope they will now be free to displays crosses in the church buildings-- a practice which the country's laws had forbidden. Under the new constitution, 52 per cent of government and parliamentary posts will be given to the ruling party, the National Congress Party, while the SPLA will get 28 per cent. The rest is preserved for the other opposition parties. The constitution also calls for wealth sharing, democratic elections within three years, and a referendum for southern Sudan secession after six years.