Churches Warn of New Conflict in Sudan, News Headlines

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Churches Warn of New Conflict in Sudan

Reinhard Backes
First published 2010-01-25

Mgr. Max Gassis, bishop of
El Obeid with children
freed from slavery
Photo: ACN News

EL OBEID - (ACN)

Decades of war and terror have left their mark on Sudan – and not least in people's hearts. The violence has cost millions of lives, sown mutual mistrust and corroded society. Peace treaties have been signed and then broken again. The most recent one, signed with such hopes in January 2005 – the so-called "Comprehensive Peace Agreement", (CPA) – is still just holding, yet in practice this document sets down no more than a temporary truce, which in any case does not apply to many parts of the country.

Besides, no genuine peace has been brought to the country by this peace agreement, signed five years ago in Nairobi between the regime in Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement, (SPLA/M). On the contrary, the regime in Khartoum has repeatedly broken the agreement of 2005.

In fact there has been and continues to be a deliberate attempt to undermine the referendum on full independence for the South, which is planned for 2011. The national elections, planned originally for June 2009, have been postponed until April 2010, the hottest season of the year, when millions will be struggling simply to survive. Many refugees are unable to return to their home regions in order to be able to register their names. The infrastructure of the war-torn regions of the South remains woefully inadequate to cater for the basic needs of the population. In fact almost the only thing that has increased is the corruption. Vast areas of the country, like the people who inhabit them, have not benefitted from the oil revenues, which were supposed to fund the reconstruction.

A number of NGOs, including the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) have warned that violence is increasing again in southern Sudan. There is a threat of new, outright warfare. At the beginning of December Catholic Bishop Cesare Mazzolari of Rumbek issued an urgent appeal, warning that "In many parts of the country, government-sponsored militias are terrorising the people, stirring up fear and provoking tensions among the different tribes and ethnic groups".

Similarly, the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS) has warned in a declaration at the end of November of a collapse in the peace agreement of 2005. Both in the preparations for the forthcoming elections in the matter of the income from the oil exploitation, the government has shown absolutely no sign of transparency, the declaration states. Laws are being promulgated that are contrary to the spirit of the peace accord, while the preparations for the referendum in 2011 are being blocked. Diplomats, like the Russian special envoy Michail Margelow, have even warned of a "new Somalia", since the situation seems to be spinning increasingly out of control. Bishop Mazzolari speaks of increasing tensions between North and South. Hitherto there have only been isolated instances of open fighting, he states, yet there is a prevailing atmosphere of "cold war", he believes.

Government troops have re-occupied important strategic positions, their ultimate aim being to secure their access to the oil reserves of the country. For of course these reserves represent wealth to whoever controls their source and can command the necessary technology for exploiting them. Additionally, in the West of the country – and despite all the protests and mediation attempts – the regime in Khartoum continues without let or hindrance to pursue its war against its own population. Hence there is little reason to expect any good news in the future. Observers believe it is very likely that there will be a new outbreak of fighting in the Kordofan region, or in the Nubian mountains, and quite possibly even in the South as well.

Bishop Macram Max Gassis of El Obeid, the diocese most affected, in the heart of Sudan, has repeatedly and sharply criticised the government. "I am witness to over 20 years of religious persecution and enslavement, of rape and torture, hunger and death", he says. Speaking to representatives of ACN, the bishop describes the unspeakable suffering of the people. "Some 2.2 million people have been victims of a genocide against the Christians and non-Muslims of Sudan", he says.

The number of dead was higher than in the atrocities in Bosnia, Kosovo and Rwanda, he adds. Without any scruples, the government bombed churches, schools, hospitals and refugee camps; and although this is now over in southern Sudan, yet the events now unfolding in Darfur are simply a copy of what happened in the South of the country – in short, a genocide, he concludes.

According to Bishop Gassis, the plight of the population is no less grave than before. The government, he says, is acting still "like a father who does not care about his children", but even deceives and manipulates them. Thus for example, the number of Christian and non-Muslims in Sudan is much higher than official sources constantly claim, he alleges.

In order to defend the God-given dignity of her people, the Church has the duty to speak out again and again, the bishop believes. "The Church is a sign of hope", he repeats. She is committed to helping, building schools, digging wells, and supporting the ordinary people, regardless of their ethnicity or religious convictions, he explains.

Bishop Gassis, who was born in Sudan and speaks fluent Arabic, vehemently criticises developments in Sudan since 2005. The assurances given at the time of the peace agreements have not been honoured, he says. Refugees still have no possibility of returning to their homes; the promised reconstruction is not taking place and the infrastructure is still lacking – wells, hospitals, schools. The revenue from the oil industry is not benefiting the affected regions, and instead of promoting agriculture, food is being imported instead.

Such outspoken criticism is not welcomed by those in power in Khartoum. Those uttering it can expect reprisals, and Bishop Maxim has indeed experienced this. For a long time he was persona non grata, fearing some kind of an attack by the regime. In fact, 17 years ago, he left his diocese for this reason, though now he is able to visit Sudan again.

However, the bishop does not reserve his criticism for the government alone. He does not mince his words with regard to representatives of the SPLA/M either. Their leaders are pursuing their own personal interests, he says, not those of the people. Corruption has now become a grave problem, with state funds and aid money not being used to rebuild the infrastructure but for the benefit of a handful of individuals. The money is either wasted or channelled into private pockets. Says Bishop Gassis, "I have asked Christian politicians: What have you done with the money? They had no answer to give me, because they are every bit as corrupt as the government".

At the same time the bishop castigates the opposition in Sudan for its lack of resolve. Its disunity is only prolonging the sufferings of the people, he complains. It is essential to return to honesty and transparency, he insists, to a climate of comprehension that addresses the needs of the people and not the personal ambitions of the politicians. Bishop Gassis confirms what many observers have already suggested: "In these circumstances the CPA has no chance. Five years after its signing, a new armed conflict is looming".

Aid to the Church in Need

2010-01-25

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