Sudanese Prelate Lauds Government Peace Deal with Rebel Group, Urges Complete Integration

Although the agreement covers key issues around security, land ownership, transitional justice, power sharing and the return of people who fled their homes because of war, two rebel factions declined to take part in the deal, Aljazeera reported.

In the Tuesday, September 1 interview with ACI Africa, the Archbishop of Khartoum expressed worry saying, “I don’t know if this agreement will make things any better without all the parties in the agreement.”

Expressing joy over the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities that is still holding in the North-East African country, the Catholic leader advocated for a comprehensive peace agreement for lasting peace to be signed by all parties in conflict.

“There is just a cessation of hostilities and ceasefire; to me it is not the same as the peace agreement,” Archbishop Didi said and added, “When there is just cessation of hostilities, the situation shouldn’t be equated to peace.”

“The warring parties have to agree; they began together the process of obtaining peace for the Sudanese people but I understand yesterday only some armed groups signed the peace agreement and others did not,” he said, adding that now was the time for all concerned parties to air their views ahead of the peace negotiations.

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Archbishop Didi further told ACI Africa that cessation of hostilities and invitation to peace talks was an opportune moment for dialogue between the Sudanese political groups in arms.

“Since the parties have in place cessation of hostilities, this is the good time that they can talk. The best conclusion of the cessation of hostilities is the peace agreement,” the Sudanese Prelate said.     

He also said that he had received numerous messages from the people in South Sudan who had followed the televised signing of the peace deal, expressing their gratitude at the peace deal. Few, however, had expressed their displeasure at the development, according to the Sudanese Prelate.

“All of them are now in the state of no war, no peace somehow; there is a ceasefire being declared by the main warring parties, and I think it is holding up (for) now, that is something to celebrate,” Archbishop Didi said, and added, “The only thing that was remaining after the cessation of hostilities was to sign the agreement and say no more war but only peace.”