The Episcopal Church of Sudan’s Provincial Standing Committee – the national policy making body of the Anglican Church in Sudan – released a statement on the current situation in the country at the conclusion of their most recent meeting.
The statement – which addresses the upcoming elections, the peace process, and referendum – is a powerful declaration signed by Sudanese Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Provincial Standing Committee. The faith community often serves on the front lines of humanitarian crises, and the situation in Sudan is no different. The Sudanese clergy are sounding the alarm as their country has reached a critical moment that requires the attention of not only the faith community, but world governments and international institutions.
Statement from the Episcopal Church of Sudan:
The peace process in Sudan has reached a critical point. With less than five months before National Elections and just over one year to the referendum on southern self-determination, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is on the brink of collapse due to contentions over the referendum law, the demarcation of the 1st January 1956 borders, and violence recently perpetrated by other armed groups. We, the Provincial Standing Committee of the ECS affirm our role to act urgently to support the implementation of the CPA: through our internal Church networks, our ecumenical and inter-faith partners within Sudan and our international partner support.
We express our sadness at the missed opportunity for making the unity of the Sudan attractive since the signing of the CPA: the lack a reconciliation process, the lack of transparency over the National Census and oil revenues, the failure to repeal or alter laws which are contrary to the spirit of the CPA which guarantees equality and freedom for all, the stalling implementation of the July 2009 Abyei ruling, and the current deadlock over the legislation governing the referendum in Southern Sudan and the popular consultations in Abyei, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. Unity has not been made attractive.
You can read the entire statement here.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Tags: CPA, Elections, Moved by Faith, Sudan
