World Council of Churches - Update
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

For immediate release: 18 January 2005


WCC salutes Sudan's peace agreement and proposes steps for reconstruction


Calling it a "significant event in contemporary Africa," World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia hailed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on 9 January 2005 by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SLPA/SPLM).

In a 17 January letter to the churches and people of Sudan, Kobia also stated that the agreement "brings a new life and a new hope to the people of Sudan" and, hopefully, "will bring a holistic, just and durable peace".

Among a dozen measures suggested as "building blocks for a post-conflict economic recovery and reconstruction programme", the WCC general secretary proposed establishing "a well-equipped and robust international peacekeeping force that is able to investigate reported violations of the agreement and oversee its implementation", as well as to "set up a strong mechanism on the ground that can deter any violations of ceasefire".

Congratulating both signing parties, Kobia expressed WCC praise for "the tenacity and resilience of the ordinary people of Sudan who have suffered much and now are looking forward to durable peace and stability". He also highlighted the contribution of Sudan's churches to the peace process, and the "exemplary leadership" of the Sudan Council of Churches, the New Sudan Council of Churches, and the support of the Sudan Ecumenical Forum.

Recalling that "over the years the ecumenical movement committed major resources and remained engaged in mediation initiatives that have contributed to the signing of the agreement", the letter states that WCC "will continue to accompany and support the Sudanese churches as they keep themselves involved in the implementation and monitoring of the Peace Agreement".

The full text of the letter is available at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/jan05sudanpeace.html


This material may be reprinted freely.

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

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 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland..