AFRICA/SUDAN - President of the Bishops' Conference applauds the Khartoum agreement

Monday, 26 August 2019 peace democracy bishops

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Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) - "I thank members of the international communities especially IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority for Development), the African Union, for helping to mediate the peace agreement", says His Exc. Mgr. Edward Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of Tombura-Yambio and President of the Bishops' Conference of Sudan, commenting on the agreement signed on August 17 in Khartoum between the military regime and the civil opposition that provides for the creation of a Sovereign Council composed of six civil representatives and five soldiers, in charge of leading the country up to democratic elections, within 39 months.
The popular uprising that began on December 19, 2018 led to the fall and arrest of President Omar Al Bashir in April. The power had been taken by a military junta, but the opposition had continued to demonstrate in order to obtain a civil government and democratic elections. In clashes with the military, several hundred people lost their lives.
"Our hearts went out for Sudan during the period under which the Country was facing the turmoil", says the Bishop of Tombura-Yambio. For this reason, Bishop Kussala states that "actually we are still Sudanese; we share the common border; our history is intertwined; our behaviour is the same; ours is a scenario of two Countries with one system", whose inhabitants are united by Arabic as a common language.
"We still have thousands of refugees from South Sudan living in Sudan", said Mgr. Kussala. "Therefore, the situation really worries and concerns us. Besides, Sudan is a partner to the peace agreement in South Sudan. As the Catholic Church, we are united under one Episcopal Conference. Therefore, the conflict in Sudan really hit at home", concluded Mgr. Kussala, who hopes that the rights and freedom of worship of the Christian minority in Sudan will be recognized. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 26/8/2019)