As church leaders in Norway, we call for an immediate end to the destructive and senseless conflict that continues to destroy lives and livelihoods across Sudan.
International organisations, including Caritas and Norwegian Church Aid, have warned of a “catastrophic situation” as the war in Sudan enters its fourth harrowing year. The UN humanitarian coordinator in the country recently described the conflict not as “forgotten” but “abandoned” by the rest of the world. Silence kills, and we are deeply concerned by the severe underreporting of this situation in the Norwegian media. We cannot accept that this is happening on our watch. Every human being is created in the image of God and has inviolable worth. No war justifies attacks on civilians or the destruction of livelihoods.
We join those calling for the violence to stop, including the widespread use of sexual violence; for civilians to be protected; and for humanitarian aid to be granted safe access to the communities most at risk and in greatest need.
Amid this humanitarian catastrophe, we are moved and encouraged by the enduring faith and resilience of our colleagues in the suffering church in Sudan. We stand with them in their longing for peace, reconciliation, justice, and the restoration of community for all the people of Sudan.
We join with our Sudanese brothers and sisters in praying for a just peace for the whole of Sudan, and that internally displaced people and refugees around the world may be able to return home.
In particular, we will:
- together with the World Council of Churches, reaffirm our commitment to accompanying the churches and people of Sudan in their pursuit of a just and lasting peace.
- urge all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities, prioritise dialogue, and take concrete steps towards reconciliation and the rebuilding of the nation.
- call on Norwegian media to take seriously their public responsibility and report more fully on the atrocities taking place in Sudan.
- call upon our own government and the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts and humanitarian support, engage actively in peacemaking, and support diaconal initiatives.
- call upon our member churches and fellow believers to pray for an immediate end to this tragic violence and for a sustainable peace to prevail.
- encourage and urge all people of good will to raise Sudan in conversations, on social media, and through every available channel. Attention is humanitarian currency: the less we speak about Sudan, the fewer resources and the less political will are mobilised to address the crisis.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
(Matthew 5:9)
Signed:
Henrik Erhard Hermansen, General Secretary of the Norwegian Christian Council
Per Anders Sandgren, Chair of the Board of the Norwegian Christian Council
On behalf of the leaders of:
The Baptist Union of Norway, Brunstad Christian Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church Community – DELK, The Anglican Church in Norway, The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Norway, The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway, The Finnish Congregation in Norway, Greek Orthodox Parish in Norway – Annunciation of the Mother of God, The Icelandic Church in Norway, The Catholic Church in Norway, The Nordic Catholic Church, The Church of Norway, The Orthodox Church in Norway – Saint Nicholas Parish, The Serbian Orthodox Church in Norway, The German-speaking Evangelical Congregation in Norway, The Salvation Army Norway, God’s Church Vegårshei, The Religious Society of Friends / Quakers in Norway, The Methodist Church in Norway, The Mission Church of Norway, The OKS Churches, The Pentecostal Movement in Norway, The Church of Sweden in Norway, Østfold Church, The Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Norway, The Eritrean Orthodox Church in Norway, The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Norway (observers in the Norwegian Christian Council), Norwegian Church Aid, Digni, Norme, Blue Cross Norway, and the Norwegian Bible Society.