Reconciliation in the Sudans (Religion and Society in Africa)

In 2005, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the longest civil war in African history. Stein Erik Horjen argues that although this second civil war was not a religious one, religion still played an important role in the conflict. Ensuring freedom of religion was a high priority for the SPLM and for the Sudanese churches, which were instrumental in preparing the ground for the 2005 agreement in the same way they had been in facilitating the Addis Ababa Peace Agreement in 1972. Focusing on the pivotal role of the Sudanese churches through a grassroots peace process called People to People, Horjen examines the churches'work in ensuring the success of the peace talks between the SPLM and the government sealed by the 2005 Peace Agreement. Taking up the role as the voice of the voiceless, the Sudanese churches challenged and criticized the military and political leaders in regards to abuses of power. In Reconciliation in the Sudans, Horjen details the tremendous suffering of the people during recurrent conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan. Understanding the history will allow the reader contextual insight into the latest conflict that erupted in South Sudan in 2013. The failure of including mechanisms for reconciliation in the CPA can be considered a main reason for this latest war. Sunday in the cathedral -- The people along the Nile -- The war no one would win -- Religion in conflict -- Interfaith dialogue -- Suffering and God -- Sudanese Christianity since the time of the Apostles -- Peace in Addis -- A people divided by war -- Peace initiatives -- One voice -- Kejiko -- Wunlit -- New power struggle in SPLM/A -- Kisumu -- Sudan Ecumenical Forum -- Let my people choose! -- Entebbe talks -- Comprehensive peace processes? -- Methods -- Back in Juba -- The long road to peace Focusing on the pivotal role of the Sudanese churches through a grassroots peace process called People to People, Horjen examines the churches' work in ensuring the success of the peace talks between the SPLM and the government sealed by the 2005 Peace Agreement. Horjen details the tremendous suffering of the people during recurrent conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan.