Update from Dane Smith
South Sudan. Negotiations in Rome under the auspices of Sant’Egidio, the lay Catholic peacebuilding organization, have made further progress toward bringing the forces of Pagan Amum (Real SPLM) and Gen. Paul Malong (South Sudan United Front) into the R/ARCSS peace agreement. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing to enter the 2017 Ceasefire Verification Mechanism and to an agenda for further talks under Sant’Egidio. The other major holdout, Gen. Thomas Cirillo, leader of the National Salvation Front (NSF), is not as far along as the others but has said he will join the ceasefire mechanism when NSF recommits to the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in upcoming negotiations.
In other news the Troika (governments of US, UK, and Norway) has rebuked the South Sudanese Government for the shutdown by security forces of a July 17 civil society discussion of the constitutional history of South Sudan, held under the auspices of the South Sudan Civil Society Forum. The Troika called for freedom of assembly and termed necessary an open and inclusive constitution-making process. UN Mission Chief Nicholas Haysom noted July 26 that 42 people accused of criminal activity had been executed this year without a fair trial. He said he was deeply concerned about this spate of extra-judicial executions.
Sudan. There is continuing burgeoning displacement in West Darfur, where fighting continues between the Masalit and Arab groups. There are reportedly more than 80 camps of displaced people. The number of displaced (hundreds of thousands) has grown rapidly in the wake of the gradual withdrawal since December of the UN peace force (UNAMID). UN forces are supposed to be replaced by 20,000 Sudanese troops, but that has not yet happened.
Francis Deng’s Wisdom. I would like to call our readers’ attention to the article this month by Francis M. Deng, one of South Sudan’s most distinguished citizens, on the 10th anniversary of the country’s independence. Before independence he served as Sudan’s ambassador to the US and Canada, and later as the UN Special Rapporteur on Displaced Persons (1992-2004) and UN Special Advisor on Genocide (2007-2012). After independence he was South Sudan’s first ambassador to the UN. He is the author of 40 books on international affairs and two novels about Sudan.
His article highlights three themes: the interplay in South Sudan of internal and external forces; the post-independence crises a power struggle between leaders and their associates led to the relative neglect of the rest of the country; and the need for collaborative efforts of the South Sudanese with international partners. He argues, “We must prioritize taking peace to the countryside to end inter-communal violence, ensure the security of rural areas, encourage people to return to their villages, and give them essential … tools … to generate self-reliant development. … Well-grounded strategic optimism must be the only way forward.” To see the entire article, visit “Clearing the Dimming Vision of the Liberation of South Sudan,” https://suddinstitute.org
The Nubans. On a slightly lighter side, take a look at the article below on the Nuba people of Sudan and their attachment to secularism — an article which begins with a sketch on wrestling. During my time in Sudan in the 1980s, a particular Saturday pleasure was to watch Nuba wrestling in an open area outside Khartoum. Those weekly contests are still going on. Nubans, who originate from the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan (and should not be confused with Nubians), are now well represented in major cities in Sudan. Nubans are both Christian and Muslim, but aside from the Copts, they constitute the largest group of Sudanese Christians.
In addition to the congregations of the Episcopal Dioceses of Kadugli and El-Obeid, Nubans today also belong to Episcopal congregations in Port Sudan, Wad Medani, and Khartoum.
Executive Director
News and Notes
The Rev. Bob North’s 60 year “Journey” to South Sudan
The Rev. Robert North (from the Mirror Democrat)
Father Bob North’s “journey” to South Sudan began over 60 years ago with a three-month college study trip to Africa. Almost 50 years later, Father Bob and his wife Karen made plans to return to Africa following an invitation from the bishop of the new Diocese of Nzara in South Sudan. Bishop Samuel Peni (now Archbishop) invited them to help bring to reality the vision for the newly formed diocese. Bishop Peni had spent the first year of the diocese working with the clergy and people in prayer to map out where they believed God was leading them – their call for the early years was evangelism, health, and education. With the support of his parish, Grace Church, Galena, Illinois and other gifts he and Karen prepared to leave for a year in Nzara, bringing with them donations of $75,000 raised for their work. In that first year, which extended to two with the help of the national church and the grace of their parish, they purchased motorcycles for the diocesan staff, a used dump truck, various supplies and equipment including two cement block makers! Karen soon began teaching English and Bob became a building contractor, designing the buildings, buying the supplies, and supervising volunteers from the diocese in the construction of a Diocesan Center with 4 offices, a Conference Center, four health clinics, a computer center, and pre-school which grew into a full primary school. From the perspective of a few years, Father Bob now says, “Never did I imagine that as a missionary I would primarily end up building things. I had always imagined myself teaching in an overseas seminary or college.’
After two years in Nzara, Father Bob and Karen returned to the U.S., but continued work in fundraising for various projects in Nzara. In 2019, with the help of funds from the United Thank Offering (UTO) and various Episcopal churches and donors, a new Birthing Center was built at the main health clinic in Nzara providing room for mothers to deliver in safety with the help of certified Midwives and Birthing Assistants. In addition, they provided bicycles so the staff can make prenatal visits, and 4 additional classrooms each for the preschool and primary schools.
Midwives and Traditional Birthing Attendants with new bicycles provided
by the United Thank Offering of The Episcopal Church in front of the new Birthing Center.
The Norths have hosted both Bishop Peni and his successor, Bishop Richard Aquilla, when they visited St. Mark’s Church, Maquoketa, Iowa where Fr. North now serves. The Diocese of Iowa has twice given Fr. Bob the opportunity to return to Nzara. On each of these trips he has renewed his deep bonds with the bishops, diocesan staffs, and the many clergy and laypersons whom he and Karen met during their initial service. These relationships are ultimately what diocesan companionship is all about. Fr. Bob says, “I count it a privilege to have once been summoned by the drums to go to the Nzara Cathedral each morning for prayers, to sing the hymns in Zande, and to have preached from the cathedral’s pulpit on numerous occasions. What a joy it is to see familiar faces, to hear and watch the various cathedral choirs sing and dance, and to celebrate the American Book of Common Prayer service, which is used at the English service every Sunday.”
A journey that began over sixty years ago, and that became more narrowly focused ten years ago, has borne great fruit in furthering God’s work in a remote corner of God’s world.
Other News from Various Sources
From PRI World News July 21, 2021
After the revolution, a secular Sudan?
By Halima Gikandi
The Nuba rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) are negotiating with the transitional government, and reviving an age-old issue in Sudan: secularism, or the separation between religion and the state.
It’s more than 100 degrees in Khartoum, but that hasn’t stopped hundreds of people from gathering in an open field to watch athletes wrestle each other to the sandy ground. Many of the young wrestlers, and the audience for that matter, come from the Nuba Mountains, where this style of wrestling originates.
Wrestlers circle each other at a match in Khartoum, Sudan. Credit: Halima Gikandi/The World
“Those people ruled us for 30 years in the name of religion, in the name of Islam,” said Mansoor Dawood, a Muslim wrestler from Nuba.
The Nuba Mountains in Sudan’s South Kordofan region is made up of predominantly Black African tribes who are religiously diverse — consisting of Christians, Muslims, and animists alike. Mixed families are common. For years, Nuba rebels fought against the aggressive regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, which pushed a strict Islamic and Arab version onto a diverse country. In 1993, he declared a holy war (jihad) against the region — calling them enemies to Muslims and Arabs. But the 2019 uprising that saw Bashir removed from power has brought a chance for peace.
“As a guy from [the] Nuba Mountains, I support that,” Dawood said. “We need secularism in Sudan, so we can get out of that nonsense,” he added, referring to the violent military campaign against the Nuba. Earlier this year, the government and SPLM-N signed a principles agreement, declaring that Sudan has no state religion.
The policies of the previous regime under Bashir claiming that the majority are Muslim in Sudan, and therefore, the governing system should be based on Islam created problems not only with the people of the Nuba Mountains. The consequences of these policies, which failed to account for Sudan’s diversity, came to a head 10 years ago, when Christians in the south voted to secede and form South Sudan.
Many people from Nuba fear there’s a risk of other parts of the country breaking away, or of ongoing conflict, if Sudan is not able to take religious ideology out of government affairs. On the other hand, many Muslims in Sudan are wary of secularization and think the pace of change is too fast.
People gathered for Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Khartoum, Sudan. Credit: Mohamed Noureldin Abdallah/The World
Any issue regarding the future direction of the country should be left to a government mandated by the people,” said Professor Hassan Elhaj Ali Ahmed, political scientist at the University of Khartoum. He argued that the transitional government is going down a slippery slope by trying to “de-Islamicize” the country so quickly and he warns that if the government makes too many changes on social and identity issues, they risk a backlash from religious conservatives.
From The Washington Post July 25, 2021
By James Ellingworth
Sudan, South Sudan athletes on Refugee team at Tokyo Olympics
The IOC Olympic Refugee Team march in the opening ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics 2021. From Twitter @Olympics
The Refugee Olympic Team was created by the International Olympic Committee for the 2016 Olympics to allow athletes to keep competing even if they have been forced to leave their home countries. Both South Sudan with 4 athletes and Sudan with 1 athlete are represented on the 2021 Refugee Olympic Team. Both countries are also represented by their own Olympic Committees with 5 athletes from Sudan competing in Track and Field, Judo, Rowing and Swimming: and 2 athletes from South Sudan both competing in Track and Field.
https://www.washingtonpost.
From Eye Radio July 20, 2021
By Charles Wote
From Radio Tamazuj July 27, 2021
Deep concerns arise over increased violence in Western Equatoria
Violent attacks on villagers and the residence of a traditional local chief in the new Western Equatoria State preceded the expected arrival July 25 in Yambio, the capital, of a newly appointed Governor, General Alfred Futuyo Karaba, a nominee of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement in Opposition. The new Governor speaks Balanda, while the majority of Western Equatoria residents speak Zande. A meeting of military commanders convened in Juba by First Vice-President Riek Machar had ordered that SPLM-IO forces in Western Equatoria should be relocated and integrated with South Sudan Defense Forces. Various government mediators have been convening community meetings to address the grievances and suffering of thousands of civilians displaced by armed men from Tambura and other towns. Speaking of the worsening situation on behalf of an interchurch council, Archbishop Samuel Peni of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan called on political leaders to avoid “irresponsible comments and incitement”. He added, “As the church, we are raising this concern to our state government, to our national government, so they can address this matter. People are just being killed.”
https://eyeradio.org/clerics-
https://radiotamazuj.org/en/
From Anadolu Agency July 19, 2021
By Benjamin Takpiny
South Sudan runs out of COVID-19 Vaccine
Health authorities in South Sudan said that the country has run out of COVID-19 vaccines after exhausting the supply of AstraZeneca doses it received from the COVAX facility in March this year. John Rumunu, director-general for preventive health services in the Ministry of Health, said they have officially ended vaccinations across the country. He said South Sudan has vaccinated 56,989 people since the country launched its vaccination campaign. South Sudan has so far reported 10,959 infections and 117 deaths.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/
From Eye Radio July 26, 2021
By Jale Richard
From Sudans Post July 27, 2021
Insecurity, fragile political situation top UN’s election assessment report
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres [Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images]
In a report submitted to the UN Security Council on July 16, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, released the needs assessment for elections in South Sudan, highlighting the need for progress in security, and legal framework before elections are held.
He raised concerns over a fragile security situation and a challenging political and socio-economic environment that he says tempers the aspirations for peaceful and credible elections. He indicated that South Sudan will – from now – need two more years beyond the timeline provided for in the revitalized peace agreement, to conduct credible, free, and fair elections.
The report states, “Electoral operations in South Sudan will be extremely complex and lengthy, given the infrastructure challenges, security concerns, inability to access large parts of the country during the rainy season, illiteracy rate and difficulty for many South Sudanese to prove their age and citizenship.”
“The parties to the peace process will likely rely on the assistance of the United Nations, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Troika (the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Norway), the European Union and others to move forward,” it adds, before saying, “The ongoing cooperation to support the implementation of the peace agreement will assume even greater importance in the context of elections.”
(Link to the full UN report: https://reliefweb.int/sites/
https://eyeradio.org/
https://eyeradio.org/
From The Washington Post and the Associated Press July 22, 2021
For South Sudan mothers, COVID-19 shook a fragile foundation
Paska Itwari Beda, the young mother of five children, is on the phone at her Juba, South Sudan home. (AP Photo/Adrienne Surprenant)
Paska Itwari Beda knows hunger all too well. The young mother of five children — all of them under age 10 — sometimes survives on one bowl of porridge a day, and her entire family is lucky to scrape together a single daily meal, even with much of the money Beda makes cleaning offices going toward food
In South Sudan, lives are built and teeter on the edge of uncertainty. A peace deal to end the civil war lags far behind schedule. Hunger haunts more than half the population of 12 million people
Yet many women say it’s the pain of the pandemic they feel most — a slow-moving disaster, in contrast to the sudden trauma of war and its fallout of famine — as they try to hold families together in what is already one of the world’s most difficult places to raise children.
With COVID-19 came the shrinking of humanitarian aid, a lifeline for many in South Sudan, as faraway donors turned attention and funding toward their own citizens instead. A lockdown wiped out the informal, untaxed labor and other work that many South Sudanese relied on for their daily meal.
Beda’s husband, a teacher who had long supported the family with his steady salary — abruptly stopped getting a paycheck. Beda’s family, like many in South Sudan, was suddenly without its breadwinner.
Beda wants more for her children than she had for herself. She witnessed five years of civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people. She never finished her schooling, instead becoming pregnant with her first child. Beda is determined that her children will have more.
https://www.washingtonpost.
As we move through the beauty of summer, we thank you for continuing to remember our friends in the Sudans!
We are deeply that grateful that contributions from you, our supporters, continue to nurture AFRECS in expanding our impact. You make a difference in the essential peacebuilding work of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. We hope you will consider taking a few minutes from your summer activities to consider a gift to the struggling people of the Sudans — of whatever you can afford in this time of COVID and increasing disruption. You can contribute online at https://afrecs.org or send a check made out to AFRECS to P.O. Box 3327, Alexandria, VA 22302
This issue of the AFRECS E-Blast was compiled by Board members Caroline Klam and Richard Jones.
AFRECS Editors encourage readers to submit their news for publication; the next deadline is August 3, 2021, please submit your news to Caroline Klam at klamcd21@gmail.com.