Sudan, S. Sudan Bishops condemn violence, calls for dialogue and peace

In their statement, released on November 21, they called on the Sudanese people to “reject violence, learn to coexist peacefully, and work for enduring peace.”

By Emmanuel Mandella

In a fervent appeal to restore peace and stability, Catholic Bishops from Sudan and South Sudan have issued a strong condemnation of the escalating violence in Sudan. The ongoing war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, leaving a humanitarian crisis of intolerable magnitude.

The bishops, convening for their Annual Plenary Assembly from November 12-19 at the Good Shepherd Peace Center in Kit, South Sudan, highlighted the urgent need for dialogue and reconciliation.

In their statement, released on November 21, they called on the Sudanese people to “reject violence, learn to coexist peacefully, and work for enduring peace.”

“We are deeply worried about the deteriorating socio-political situation in Sudan,” the bishops noted. “The war, now in its second year, continues with no prospects for peace due to the absence of dialogue between the SAF and RSF. Thousands of lives have been lost, and millions have fled their homes to relatively peaceful areas or neighboring countries. The humanitarian impact on civilians has surpassed tolerable limits and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”

The bishops implored international bodies including IGAD, the African Union, and the United Nations to prioritize peace-building initiatives in Sudan.

“We urge all parties to respect humanitarian law and open corridors for lifesaving assistance,” they stated, emphasizing the critical role of global partners in mitigating the crisis.

In addition to addressing Sudan’s internal conflict, the bishops raised alarms over the potential destabilization of South Sudan due to territorial disputes with neighboring countries. “We urge the government of South Sudan to protect its borders vigilantly, as territorial encroachments could

The war in Sudan has led to an influx of refugees in South Sudan, with multiple citizens crossing the borders to seek refuge in the country,

In October, following her visit to Geneva, Switzerland, the Minister of Interior, Angelina Teny, has raised the alarm over the increasing number of people at risk of statelessness in the country, driven by the surge in refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Speaking to reporters in Juba on Monday, after returning from the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR in Geneva, Teny emphasized that South Sudan is facing and handling the critical challenge of protecting vulnerable populations.

“This year, the special focus was on statelessness and how to protect those who are at risk. Our country is one of those with a very big number of people at risk of statelessness,” said Teny

She added that discussions at the meeting centered on how to address the pledges South Sudan made at the global refugee forum, particularly concerning the protection of refugees, IDPs, and returnees.

The Sudan war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF over a transition to free elections, has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. The United Nations has said nearly 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – need aid, famine is looming and some 8 million people have fled their homes.

Aid workers say the 19-month conflict in Sudan has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with many thousands at risk of famine.

In August, a UN-backed committee of experts declared famine conditions in parts of Darfur.

The head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said starvation was “almost everywhere” following a visit to the country a month later.

“The situation in Sudan is very alarming… the massive displacement – it’s now the largest in the world, and, of course, famine,” director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed.

“We urge all parties to respect humanitarian law and open corridors for lifesaving assistance,” Sudan and South Sudan Bishops joint statement to global bodies on Sudan.