AFRICA/SUDAN - Sudan and its wars: less conventional arms (hunger) less conventional soldiers (children). Fides spoke to Mill Hill missionary who has just published a book on Sudan and its conflicts “Travelling With Soldiers and Bishops”

Khartoum (Fides)- “The civil war in Sudan is a complex war. It is too simple to describe it as a conflict between ideologies of North and South ” Mill Hill missionary Fr Mathew Haumann in Sudan told Fides. Fr Haumann has just published a book on the war in Sudan “Travelling With Soldiers and Bishops”.
The motivations behind Sudan’s civil war are many Father Haumann said. “There are obvious ethnic aspects something akin to apartheid exists between the Arab population in the north and the more African population in the South. Culture and religion play a significant role too. They are being used and abused in this war as the Arabs try to Arabise the whole country through a concerted effort to Islamise the entire population”. Economic interests such as the exploitation of oil play an important part and are worth fighting about, Father Haumann explained.
“The war is complex and the weapons used are very diverse. The tanks, the bomber planes, the helicopter gun ships, the mines, the guns and all the ammunition are supplied by the Western world. Also less conventional weapons like hunger are beings used in this war. Not providing basic education or ruining the education system in the South is experienced as a greater damage to society than bombardments can do. The government knows that it is easier to suppress the uneducated and also the SPLA has not a great record providing education for the youth. Often it is easy to conscript the uneducated for this war.”
This was has produced unconventional fighters, young children. “A whole generation has grown up without having experienced what is means to live in peace...it is often forgotten that most victims in this war are children who are dragged into the war or get entangled in it without being able to get out of it. Still these are children are the future of Sudan” the missionary said.
However history shows that this is no new horror even in the developed world. “In our society before our wars became long distance and computerised fighting, when our soldiers were still marching on foot we called them “infantry”. I believe this term comes from the word “infant”, a very young child” Father Haumann said. “Children are naturally inclined to imitate adult behaviour and if they don’t want to join they are often lured or forced to take part in the war”.
“Today the world is looking at the conflict in Darfur, western Sudan. What is happening there, bombardments, violence against civilians, etc., is what has been happening for more than 20 years in the south of the country ” Fr Haumann concluded.
The book “Travelling With Soldiers and Bishops” is published in Kenya by Paulines Publications Africa. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2004 righe 43 parole 531)