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Appointment of Christian Woman in Sudan a “transformation of politics,” Bishop Says

Peter Mapuor Makur

By Peter Mapuor Makur

Torit, 27 August, 2019 / 1:59 am (ACI Africa).

The appointment of Aisha Musa Saeed, a Christian woman, in the newly formed transitional government of Sudan has been viewed as a transformation of politics in the Northeast African country, sources, including a Bishop in South Sudan, have told ACI Africa. 

“I think Sudan is witnessing the transformation of politics,” Bishop Stephen Ameyu of Torit diocese in South Sudan told ACI Africa Monday in reference to the appointment of Saeed to the ruling council of Sudan.

Saeed was appointed Tuesday last week among six civilians and five military representatives that will govern Sudan for a little over three years, after which elections will be held.

“I think it is a new change of mind in the political arena in Sudan,” Bishop Ameyu said and explained in reference to the main opposition coalition in Sudan and the country’s ruling military council, “because they know that it is important for all the people, all the faithful to contribute to politics.”

The Prelate hailed the decision to include the Christian woman in Sudan’s governance structure saying that “women should be seen in a very positive way” and that “women can bring kinds of unique policies to governments.”

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“This time with the presence of women in government, we hope that things will really come out positively,” the Bishop said making particular reference to previous regimes in Khartoum characterized with persecution of Christians.

 “I believe that a woman or women can do better than us men who are religious,” Bishop Ameyu said.

Khansa Ahmed, a Muslim from the Sudanese city Omdurman described Saeed’s appointment as a welcome change and a way of embracing other religions in Sudan saying, “the change is positive, and towards accepting more and more other religions.”

Saeed’s appointment means that “she has participated and has the credentials to be offered the position,” Grace Legge told ACI Africa.

The inclusion of Christians in the sovereign council “will give them hope at least that they are recognized as an integral part of the country,” a South Sudanese UN official told ACI Africa.

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The Government power sharing deal for a political transition in Sudan was brokered in July by African Union and Ethiopia mediators after Omar el Bashir was overthrown in the April 2019 coup in the wake of consistent mass protests, which professional associations spearheaded.

Judge Saeed who studied as a translator at the University of Leeds in the UK will serve in the sovereign council in a country where Christians represent 4.6% of 40 million people, according to the World Christian Database.

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