AFRICA/SUDAN - “101 Days of Prayer for Peace in Sudan” campaign launched by Catholic Church

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – September 21, the International Day of Peace, marked the start of a campaign: “101 Days of Prayer for Peace in Sudan,” sponsored by the Sudanese Bishops' Conference, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Catholic Relief Services.
“The African nation’s stability is key to stability in the whole region, and with preparations lagging for a January referendum on secession by Southern Sudan, many governmental and nongovernmental agencies are watching the nation carefully,” says a statement sent to Fides. Thus, “the Sudanese bishops, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services launched the 101 Days of Prayer for Peace in Sudan campaign.” The campaign will end on 101 days from now, on January 1, 2011, World Day of Peace.
The statement reads: “A special website features a video in which Sudanese bishops and CRS officials compare the potential for genocide and war in Sudan with genocide in Rwanda and Darfur. As one CRS official puts it, Sudan has the potential for 'a conflict of a magnitude and scale that would make Rwanda and Darfur look manageable.'”
In a statement issued in July, Sudan’s bishops noted that progress toward peace had been made since the 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended the 20-year-long war in south Sudan, however they also noted the problems still facing the area and the risks these present. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 22/9/2010)