Sudanese bishops lament continued violence

November 08, 2011

Meeting in common assembly, the bishops of two nations--newly independent South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan, which is largely Muslim--called upon the African Union to address the violence that continues to afflict the region.

“We are deeply troubled by the ongoing violence in our two nations,” the bishops said in a recent statement. “Civil war has broken out in the Nuba Mountains / South Kordofan State and in Blue Nile State, alongside the ongoing war in Darfur. We have consistently warned of the danger of a return to hostilities if the legitimate aspirations of the people of these areas were not met. Civilians are being terrorized by indiscriminate aerial bombardment.”

“There is an urgent need to open humanitarian corridors to allow food and medicines to reach those in need,” they added. The dispute over the status of Abyei has been militarized. We urge the international community, and particularly our brothers and sisters in the African Union, to ensure that these conflicts are resolved peacefully through the full implementation of the remaining protocols of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for these three areas, and to assist with outstanding issues between the two nations including citizenship and demarcation of boundaries.”

 

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Further information:

• The Church God wants us to be (Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference)
• Comprehensive Peace Agreement (Wikipedia)