wfn.org | Prepare to market peace in Sudan - Dandala tells church leaders

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

AACC NEWSFLASH

November 3rd 2003

Prepare to market peace in Sudan - Dandala tells church leaders
By Mitch Odero
AACC Information Desk

The General Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches, Rev. Dr. H. 
Mvume Dandala has called on Sudanese Church leaders to gear themselves for 
the task of "profiling and marketing peace" in their country in the 
post-war Sudan.

In his opening address today to the New Sudan Council of Churches 
Roundtable meeting in Nairobi, Rev. Dandala stressed that other immediate 
tasks will include civic education and healing of the wounds of the civil 
war and trauma of slavery.  Roundtable meeting gathers representatives of 
the international ecumenical partners/donors and Christian 
Councils/churches for consultation on projects or programmes for which 
financial support is sought.

"Churches in Sudan will have a crucial responsibility in monitoring peace 
implementation" he went on noting that a final peace agreement between 
Sudanese government and Sudanese peoples' Liberation Movement / Army 
(SPLM/A) is expected to be signed soon.

He recalled that the only interlude of peace the people of Sudan have 
enjoyed was from 1972 to 1983 following the Addis Ababa peace agreement 
brokered by the All Africa Conference of Churches and the World Council of 
Churches.  It failed for lack of strong monitoring mechanism.

Part of the arrangements already agreed upon for the present peace process 
is that there will be a six-year transitional period at the end of which a 
referendum will be conducted for the Southern Sudanese to decide whether or 
not to opt for self-governing Southern Sudan.

Accordingly, Rev. Dandala noted the need for civic education which would 
ensure that participation in the referendum will be by informed citizens 
all capable of making informed decisions.

He also called for de-mining programme to set the land free for productive 
purposes.

Rev. Dandala underlined "protection of human rights must be an integral 
part of any peace settlement.  This should include prohibition of all forms 
of torture, ill-treatment including rape and killings of prisoners"

Drawing lessons from his country South Africa, Rev. Dandala noted that 
"South Africa's violent history resulted in a culture of violent crime in 
the post apartheid era.  During the apartheid era, such violence would have 
been regarded as part of liberation struggles and so the nation nurtured a 
culture of violence.  Sudan too, has undergone a long history of armed 
struggles.

He went on to note that South African cities and towns "entered the 1990's 
with a legacy of segregationist planning and now have to face the challenge 
of transforming and integrating the divisions to overcome separatism."

For Sudan "it is even more complicated.  There is the religious divide" he 
noted, calling on Southern Sudanese churches to uphold "an evangelical 
zeal" in instilling a culture of peace.

People, he went on, will also need to be educated on human rights at two 
levels; one to ensure those in authority do not abuse the human rights and 
two, that such education is taken to the ordinary people.

"In South Africa, we had a National Peace Accord but we soon learnt that 
treaties signed at inter-party levels do not necessarily translate into a 
way for life for the ordinary people" he recalled

He hailed the Sudanese churches for their courage to speak out against all 
odds in the past and assured them of continued support by AACC.

"Signing the peace agreement is one thing but the development of a 
harmonious society is another.	Churches will have to play a leading role 
as they have done in the past, to help create a harmonious society" he went
on.

He also gave a part on the back to the ecumenical partners including Sudan 
Ecumenical Forum (SEF) for their determined commitment to Sudan.  "It is 
our hope that we will continue to join hands for humanity to enable Sudan 
sail through the critical time ahead.  I am without doubt that when the 
true history of Sudan will be written one day, you will not be forgotten," 
he stressed.

Earlier at the opening worship, the Chairman of New Sudan Council of 
Churches Fr. Mark Kimbonyaki noted the need for the Sudanese in diaspora to 
prepare to return home.

He referred to the biblical story of Jews who were doubtful of journeying 
to the promised land.  "Sudan is our promised land.  Life there may not be 
easy at the beginning but what will count is the role all of us play to 
rebuild our country," he emphasised.

For further information contact:

Mitch Odero - AACC Information Desk
E-mail:  infodesk@aacc-ceta.org
Tel: 254-020-4441483/4441338/9
Fax: 254-020-4443241/4445835
Or website www.aacc-ceta.org