Lambeth - Sudanese bishops Ask for international support on peace agreement

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Lambeth Daily
Sudanese bishops ask for international support on peace agreement
Posted On : July 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
Related Categories: News

The bishops of Sudan have called for continuing 
international pressure on the Government of Sudan 
and other armed groups to bring an end to violence in Darfur.

At the launch of the Art of Reconciliation 
Exhibition today, featuring artwork from the 
Diocese of Malakal, the first art show since the 
civil war, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of 
Sudan Daniel Deng Bul Yak gave a statement to 
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams outlining the bishops’ concerns.

While the bishops were greatly encouraged by the 
Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by the 
Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s 
Liberation Movement three years ago, they said 
that “we remain deeply concerned that the 
conflict in Darfur, in Western Sudan, continues 
unabated, and at the localised conflict in 
several places which threatens stability and the sustainability of peace.”

Dr Williams in receiving the statement said that 
it was apparent that the chances of peace in 
Darfur were negligible “as long as there is 
instability, suffering and violence in Southern Sudan.”

“We want to see some urgent action here. We also 
want to see proper collaboration between the 
Khartoum government, the African Union and the UN 
peacemaking projects and policies at the moment,” he said.

The Sudanese bishops have called for a full 
implementation of the CPA, with a referendum to 
be held in 2011 on the future political status of 
Southern Sudan as being “of key significance” in its implementation.

Violations of the CPA include the destruction of 
the town of Abyei, in the oil-rich area on the 
border between Northern and Southern Sudan in May 
this year, which displaced over 90,000 people.

The bishops have also called for unity in the 
church in the North and South, “whatever the political boundaries”.

Archbishop Rowan Williams said that the Anglican 
Communion owed a debt of thanks to the Episcopal Church in Sudan.

“We have benefited deeply from your witness, you 
courage and your prayerfulness,” he said. “We can 
best repay that debt by working in solidarity for 
what most deeply matters to you and to your country.”

“To be here at this exhibition this afternoon is 
a great privilege where we see one of the things 
that always make a difference in these 
situations, that is, art which expresses human 
dignity and human hope. And 
as all of these 
images tell us, people need to be able to imagine 
by God’s grace that things can be different. The 
church is there to keep people imagining that 
things can be different. And in know that in your 
prayer and your witness that’s what you do and 
that’s what we want to do with you and alongside you.”

Staff writer