Sudanese churches decry slow implementation of peace deal
Aug 25, 2006 (NAIROBI) — Churches in Sudan have decried slow implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the government and the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in January 2005.
Church leaders who ended an ecumenical meeting in Nairobi at the weekend said they abhorred the “prevalence of violent conflicts, ethnic clashes in many parts of Southern Sudan, corruption in the public offices, lack of development and services to the people, and slow implementation of the CPA” close to two years since the peace deal was signed.
The meeting was hosted by the All Africa Conference of Churches from August 17 – 19 at Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ecumenical Centre. In a final communiqué signed by leaders of 10 churches – including the Episcopal, Catholic, Presbyterian and Coptic Orthodox churches – the leaders said they were also unhappy that churches had been excluded from implementation of the peace pact.
“We note with regret the isolation of the churches in the implementation of the CPA although the churches played a major role in bringing about the agreement. We call upon the Governments to include the churches in the implementation of the CPA, and to improve their performance in the security and governance of the country,” the leaders said.
On the troubled western province of Darfur, they welcomed the peace process under the African Union which resulted in one faction signing a peace agreement with the Government of Sudan.
“But we are concerned by the escalation of the fighting on the ground and call upon the Government of Sudan and the other stakeholders to: (a) listen to the people of Darfur; (b) disarm the Janjaweed; and (c) accept the UN Peace-keeping force to Darfur.”
The UN Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss the deteriorating situation in Darfur, despite a request from the Sudanese Government to postpone the meeting.
The leaders also expressed satisfaction with initiatives to bring peace in Eastern Sudan, but said they were concerned about the outright rejection of the recommendations of the Abyei Boundary Commission by the National Congress Party and the absence of administration in the area.
They called on the government and the international community to expedite the return and resettlement of internally displaced persons and refugees. The Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process should also be speeded up, they said.
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)