4 March 2005
On 9 January 2005, the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) and the government of Sudan signed a historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement designed to end virtually fifty years of bloodshed between the people of the north and the people of the south.

The Kenya government hosted the seven-hour signing ceremony in Nairobi. The two chief negotiators, Dr. Ali Osman Taha, First Vice President of Sudan representing the Sudan government, and Dr. John Garang, Chairman of the SPLM/A representing southern Sudan signed the peace accord. Presidents, vice presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and high officials of many countries and international organizations, as well as thousands of others, witnessed the event.

National TV of Kenya, which televised the event live, captioned the accord, "Sudan—A New Dawn." The Kenya TV Network called it, "Silencing the Gun." Dr. John Garang pronounced the signed peace accord the "New Year's gift to all Sudanese."

The chief mediator was the master of ceremony. He is a retired Kenyan army general, General Lazarus Sumbeiywo. This wonderful, Christian peace mediator attended a consultation in south Sudan four months previously. At the consultation, attended by Christian missions, churches, and NGO's, General Lazarus briefed the group on the progress of the Sudan peace negotiations. The General affirmed that God gave him a vision 20 years earlier and that he would be instrumental in bringing peace to Sudan. That clear vision from the Lord encouraged General Lazarus to persevere during the arduous process of negotiations. At the consultation he declared, "Peace will come to Sudan." Four months after his optimistic declaration, peace finally came. Praise the Lord!

With the independence of Sudan from Anglo-Egyptian rule in 1956, these two distinct communities of northern and southern Sudan were forced together as one nation against the wishes of the vast majority of the southern Sudanese who were never given a choice in the matter. This led to successive civil wars between the south and the northern Sudan government which destroyed southern Sudan beyond imagination.

The war that began in 1983, lasting 21 years, is the longest running civil war in Africa. The war resulted in more than two million people dead, five million displaced, and virtual destruction of the entire infrastructure of southern Sudan.

The peace agreement includes wealth sharing, power sharing (Chairman Garang will become the First Vice President of South Sudan), political autonomy for South Sudan, and a referendum on independence for and by South Sudan after six years.

There are almost no hospitals or schools in all of southern Sudan, which has a population of more than 12 million people and an area larger than the countries of Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti combined. Vast areas of fertile lands lie uncultivated. Rebuilding this war-ravaged nation will not be easy. The southern Sudanese have greatly suffered for so long. Yet, God is merciful. He saw the misery of His people and answered the prayers of the Sudanese and of many Christians around the world. Thank you for persevering in prayer for Sudan for all these years.

Pray

• Please continue to pray that all the details of the peace agreement will be implemented, and that all parties will honor their commitments.

• Pray that the government of South Sudan, which desires to establish a "new Sudan," will have wisdom in rebuilding the war-torn country with the help of donor countries and international aid organizations.

• Pray that the leaders of South Sudan will serve with integrity and in the fear of God. Please pray also that God will raise Christian people to help rebuild South Sudan and to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

• Pray for the churches in Sudan, especially the Sudan Interior Church (SIC), related to SIM. Our prayer is that they will mature in their relationship with the Lord and take up the responsibilities of evangelizing the unreached, planting new churches, and discipling believers during this post-war, Spirit-hungry time.

• Refugees are returning to their homes (or rather their home areas, as many of them have lost their homes). Please pray as they reassemble their "new lives" in their "old homes." Especially pray for healing from hatred and trauma.

• The UN and other organizations coordinating the refugees' return need prayer, as well. To resettle five million people is a daunting task which needs funds, personnel, stamina, wisdom, and logistics.

To learn more about SIM's response, visit our project Rebuilding South Sudan: Church and Nation.