5 Years in
Darfur: Death, Displacement, Difficulties
Bishop Writes Reflection to Mark Anniversary of Conflict
EL OBEID, Sudan, APRIL 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- In a
reflection and prayer marking five years of the conflict
in the Darfur region, a Sudanese bishop affirmed that no
good comes from war.
Bishop Antonio Menegazzo, apostolic administrator of El
Obeid, a diocese that includes the Darfur region, wrote
a reflection and prayer about the five-year conflict in
Sudan's western region. The war began in February 2003.
"Five years of deaths, displacement, difficulties,
suffering: These are the results of five years of war,"
he said. "Experience teaches that no good comes from
war, but only destruction and death; in spite of this,
wars continue in the world, and man wants to solve his
problems and divergences by war and the use of force."
An estimated 200,000 people have been killed and over 2
million have been driven from their homes by the Darfur
conflict, which began in early 2003 when mostly non-Arab
rebels began an armed rebellion against the government.
The bishop affirmed that war will not solve the problems
in Darfur, "only justice and equality, which will be
reached through dialogue."
He continued: "If dialogue is surely the only way to
reach peace, why to continue to fight? Is it not better
to lay down arms immediately and to start a real and
sincere dialogue, with a decided will to come to a
peaceful and satisfactory agreement?
"A compromise by both parties is necessary. Truth and
mistakes exist in both parties, and both must recognize
this reality. But is there the good will to terminate
the war, or will private interests and pride prevent the
fighters from reaching the desired results?"
And the bishop voiced a prayer: "O God […] you created
us all equal, with the same dignity and therefore you
want us to be brothers, to love and respect each other.
"In Darfur there is no union, no love, no respect for
the person. Millions of people, children and elders,
women and men, are living without dignity, suffering and
dying.
"Help those who work for peace, trying to convince the
parties to put an end to the war. O God, peace is your
gift and you are the God of peace: Bring peace in Darfur
and put an end to the sufferings of innocent people."
