Webinar
Sudan: War, Challenge, and the Church
Tuesday, June 18th | 3:00pm EDT
While not headline news in the United States, our brothers & sisters in the Sudans are suffering.
Since April 2023 Sudan has been ripped apart by nation-wide fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces militia. This conflict follows a 2021 military coup which upended a transition to democratic rule.
In the past year 15,000 have died. Almost 9 million people have been displaced, the largest number in the world. Khartoum, its capital, has been largely destroyed. Almost 40% of the population is food insecure. And, through all of this, faithful Christians are working to make conditions livable. The Episcopal Church in Sudan has regrouped after ouster from its headquarters in Khartoum, is promoting recovery of its scattered churches & is providing relief where possible with international support.
In South Sudan the civil war which erupted two years after independence in 2011 ended with an uneasy 2018 peace promising a transition to elections. That peace agreement has largely been unimplemented, leaving elections uncertain. The South Sudanese Government is corrupt & dysfunctional. The dynamic Episcopal Church has nevertheless been effectively promoting literacy, livelihood creation, trauma healing & peace.
Join us to learn about the genesis of the crises in the Sudans, the unhelpful involvement of some outside powers & the inspiring role of both national churches. You will leave with ideas on how you & your church can help and where you can learn more.
Panelists include:
- Joseph Bilal – Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Church Relations, Episcopal University of South Sudan; Juba
- Jacqueline H. Wilson – Policy Analyst, Office of Sudan/South Sudan; Arlington, Virginia
- Brian D’Silva – Economic and Political Expert on the Sudans; Reston, Virginia
- Anita Sanborn – President, AFRECS; Angola, Indiana
- Dane Smith – Executive Director, AFRECS, ret. US Ambassador, Washington, District of Columbia