In this section, you will find information related to advocacy for Sudanese in the United States and abroad.
Sample Advocacy Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Please urge the administration to address the urgent situation in Sudan using this letter as a guide.
Summary of Advocacy Objectives For Religious Community Efforts Regarding Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile Armed Conflicts in Sudan
DRAFT
December 6, 2011
From: Richard Parkins, Russ Randle
American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (AFRECS)
Military forces of the Government of Sudan brutally attacked South
Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces in order to subdue political opposition
to the Bashir government. The attacks in South Kordofan (also known as
the Nuba Mountain region) began in June and continue there; the attacks
in Blue Nile began in September and continue. Current estimates indicate
that several hundred thousand people have been displaced and thousands
killed. The SAF has burned down churches, summarily arrested and
executed opposition leaders, shelled refugee camps and indiscriminately
bombed civilians.
Several hundred thousand people are hiding in the Nuba Mountains and
unable to grow food because of government bombardment. Tens of thousands
have fled across the border into South Sudan; the SAF has bombed one of
the refugee camps and subsequently moved heavy artillery across the
border and used it to shell the camp, killing a number of refugees. The
Sudan government refuses to allow humanitarian organizations to deliver
food, medical supplies, and shelter to the displaced people. It is
estimated that the area is on the brink of famine, threatening several
hundred thousand people by early next year.
In Blue Nile State, over 100,000 people are believed to have been
displaced by the fighting, with tens of thousands fleeing into Ethiopia
and into South Sudan (White Nile State). The SAF has crossed the border
on several occasions into White Nile State but so far been pushed back
by SPLA forces. The humanitarian situation in Blue Nile State is also
very bad because the government denies humanitarian access. The
situation in White Nile State is worsening because of the government
blockade on trade which has been in force since the spring, preventing
delivery of fuel, food, medical supplies, and other normal items of
commerce needed to sustain the local population and refugees. The SAF
continues to interfere with food deliveries to the south by the World
Food Program.
These two conflicts follow the model set in Darfur and pursued by the
SAF in Abyei in 2008 and again earlier this year. The leader of the SAF
in the Nuba Mountains has been indicted by the International Criminal
Court for his genocidal activities in Darfur, which he is now
replicating in South Kordofan.
In order to prevent general warfare between the north and south, the U.S
government and others have tried to restrain South Sudan from reacting
to this genocidal campaign and to the border incursions. While
prevention of wider war is of great importance, there are numerous steps
short of war the US can take in order to try to stop the bloodshed in
the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile State, and failing that, to prevent the
occurrence of deadly famine and the potential loss of tens and perhaps
hundreds of thousands of innocent people as a result of Khartoum’s
brutal assault on many of its own people.
These steps may reasonably include:
I. Promptly enable and strongly support cross-border relief operations
to the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile State from South Sudan. The
government of Sudan’s refusal to allow humanitarian access to the Nuba
Mountains from the north threatens several hundred thousand people with
famine as early as January. The government has denied access from the
north and has used the Red Crescent as a front for its security forces
to detain and summarily execute its political opponents. Effective
famine prevention requires access from South Sudan and safe humanitarian
access into the Nuba Mountains. Similar access is also needed into Blue
Nile State, both from South Sudan and from Ethiopia.
II. Promptly provide additional relief support – food, medical supplies,
shelter, and related services – to refugees and returnees in south Sudan
and Ethiopia.
III. Insist on cessation of the northern economic blockade of the south
The north has blocked all trade to the south in food, fuel, medical
supplies, and the ordinary items of trade which previously moved
routinely south. Gasoline is now $25 per gallon in White Nile State.
IV. Help recruit and move neutral peacekeeping forces to the border
areas of South Sudan to prevent clashes between north and south Sudan
from occurring and triggering a wider war. Prior UN peacekeeping forces
failed the tests of neutrality and effectiveness.
V. Until peacekeeping forces can be moved into place, assist the
Government of South Sudan by providing aerial surveillance of the border
region and by placing credible military monitors into the area to detect
and report attacks such as those committed by the SAF ground and air
forces on refugee camps.
VI. Continue to press for an effective cease-fire and negotiated
resolution of the conflicts in Blue Nile, South Kordofan, and Darfur.
AFRECS Advocacy Priorities
The AFRECS Board has adopted these priorities for upcoming governmental advocacy efforts:
- Protection of religious minorities, especially Christians living in northern Sudan, who are very fearful of renewed persecution, based on statements by the Khartoum government
- Emergency relief, particularly as may apply to movements of refugees and outbreaks of fighting
- Support for local peacemaking efforts to resolve intertribal and other conflicts, particularly church efforts, such as Archbishop Daniel’s current efforts in Abyei
- Adoption of strong transparency measures to assure accountability for oil and other resource revenue and help prevent corruption
- Support for literacy training, particularly carried out in connection with Bible translation and related tribal language efforts.
As the Khartoum government and the government of South Sudan negotiate their future relationship, the United States and other countries will play key roles in helping the parties reach workable arrangements for peaceful cooperation. The Board believes that emphasizing these priorities will strongly support the Episcopal Church of Sudan and its efforts to secure the peace and improve the lives of the people in both countries.
Episcopal Church: Season of Prayer for Sudan
In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Sudan, The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, has called for a Season of Prayer. The Archbishop of the Episcopal Church in Sudan, the Most Reverend Daniel Deng Bul, has issued a Call to Prayer.
AFRECS E-Blasts
AFRECS sends a weekly Sudan update to our members and others interested in Sudan. This is a rich source of suggestions of which people and organizations you can encourage. Click here to see recent E-Blasts about Sudan.
Sudan Resolutions as Enacted at 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church
Resolution: A033
Title: Peace and Reconciliation in Southern Sudan
Resolution: D007
Title: Sudan Peace and TEC Partnership