Khartoum and Juba, the capital cities of Northern and Southern Sudan respectively, are separated by some 1,700 kilometres and the wounds of 21 years of civil war. The conflict between the predominantly Muslim North and the majority Christian South killed some 2 million people and left more than 4 million internally displaced persons.
A Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005 ended the war but not the problems. Not least being the implementation of the many contentious points of the agreement itself, like border demarcation, sharing of oil revenues and proper preparation of a census and elections.
A predominately agricultural area, Yambio was relatively less affected than other regions during the war. But there have been sporadic tensions between the local Zande population and displaced cattle keeping Dinka. An added plight is the presence in the region of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army. The rebel movement, whose leaders have been issued with war crimes indictments by the International Criminal Court because of the atrocities committed during a 21-year war against the Ugandan government, is known for its cruelty.
A member of the ecumenical team said: "Yambio could be a paradise, but under the current circumstances is simply terrible."
The five-person team visiting Yambio was part of a bigger international ecumenical solidarity visit to Sudan sent by the World Council of Churches and the All Africa Council of Churches. From 26 to 31 April, in addition to Yambio, three other teams visited Khartoum, Darfur and Rumbek before joining some 80 Sudanese church representatives - leaders, women and youth - for a three-day conference in Juba. The goal of the visits and conference was to listen to the Sudanese churches' concerns and hopes as well as to express the ecumenical family's solidarity with the churches and people of Sudan.
What was the one thing that struck you most during the visit?
The plight of the people. They are still afraid, they suffer from insecurity because of the attacks of the Lord's Resistance Army. Many people are sleeping in the bush, they cannot send the children to school. On the other hand, we saw churches full and united. The people's only hope is the church. So, this solidarity visit was something that strengthened them, encouraged them and gave them hope.
