Monday, April 29, 2024

WCC NEWS: WCC meets president of Sudan for discussion of roadmap to peace

On 20 April, an ecumenical delegation led by World Council of Churches president from Africa His Holiness Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, of the Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide, met with Sudan president General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan. 
The World Council of Churches led a delegation on a visit to Sudan from 18-22 April. President of the Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan. Photo: President's office of Sudan
26 April 2024

I informed him about the composition and work of the WCC, and how we have been engaged in peace missions in the past and present, including Cuba, Colombia, Palestine, and Sudan in the past,” said Ositelu. “I also expressed our concern about the situation in Sudan and shared how we are also involved in humanitarian assistance.”

The World Council of Churches led a delegation on a visit to Sudan from 19-22 April. The ecumenical group included the World Council of Churches (WCC), All Africa Conference of Churches, ACT Alliance, Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa Global Ministries, Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa, and Norwegian Church Aid. 

Ositelu described the mission to Sudan as a solidarity visit to listen to the authorities and the Sudanese, as well as to discuss the president’s roadmap to peace, and explore how the WCC can help Sudan achieve a just peace. 

“I informed the president that we have listened to specialized ministries and member churches in Sudan,” said Ositelu. “I informed him that despite shortage of resources, the humanitarian agencies are trying their best.”

Many internally displaced persons are lacking food, shelter, and water, and are facing health challenges. 

"The president appreciated our solidarity visit and expressed his readiness to resolve the conflict through dialogue,” said Ositelu. “He insisted that any agreement reached must be adhered to, which was not the case in the past, according to him.”

Ositelu thanked the president for his understanding and for his willingness to resolve the conflict at the round table. 

“As a result of our meetings with both the Christian and Muslim communities, it is very clear that the conflict in Sudan has nothing to do with religion—but instead with politics, ethnicity, and power,” said Ositelu. "The minister in charge of security informed us that extremists and fundamentalists exist, but are very few and that they have no role to play in Sudan, and that their actions are insignificant.”

The Sudan Christian Council expressed gratitude for the solidarity visit, particularly at this period when some Sudanese are fleeing the country because of the war.

“They are very grateful indeed,” said Ositelu. "We were all invited to fellowship with them at the Anglican Church in Port-Sudan on 21 April where I presented the homily.”

The theme of Ositelu’s message was “At a time like this.”

Ositelu expressed gratitude to God for making the solidarity visit possible. “Secondly, I am very happy that the authorities are open to dialogue, which is the basis of reaching goals, and in this context, our goal is just peace,” he said. 

In solidarity visit to Sudan, WCC strengthens foundations for peace | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org)

WCC urges prayers—and action—for the plight of people in Sudan | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org)

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The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

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