This statement signed by Caritas Internationalis and other organizations on the second anniversary of the outbreak of conflict in Sudan is shared here with their permission.
Sudan and its people are left in the shadows – a forgotten conflict for many.
Today, the 15th of April 2025, marks the second anniversary of the protracted conflict in Sudan. A Ministerial Conference is being convened in London to bring together major donor governments and states from the region with influence on the fighting parties. As leaders of Christian faith-based organisations and religious leaders, we mourn the loss of lives of Sudanese civilians and first responders killed. We must make this a watershed moment for concerted action to protect civilians and first responders. We affirm the commitment of the churches under the Sudan Council of Churches toward the restoration of peace and stability in the country.
The ongoing conflict has further destabilised an already fragile situation, spiralling into a severe humanitarian crisis with increased violence, displacement and humanitarian needs, exacerbated by drastic global aid cuts. As faith-based actors, our work is rooted in a long history of solidarity with Sudan, promoting peace, justice and human dignity. As the regional impacts are bringing further threats of violence and political tensions, we echo the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference statement in calling for the primacy of human life,
restraint and dialogue for peace.
ACT Alliance, Caritas Internationalis and local partners are working together on the frontline of our humanitarian response. Wherever possible, we are also maintaining development programmes to ensure future recovery. At the heart of our joint appeal is support to Sudanese civil society and mutual aid actors who are the backbone aiding their communities and constituencies.
At large, both community-based networks and local civil society organisations, who can respond using ground-level analysis, remain critically underfunded and face extreme risks daily. Despite recognition that local actors have led – often alone – the response for communities affected by famine and multiple humanitarian challenges since April 2023, direct funding and protection remain alarmingly low. Local actors continue to receive less than 1% of international aid.
We welcome the efforts of Sudanese actors to maintain access, communication and coordination to enable communities affected by conflict and crisis to access aid. Their tireless work to counter hate speech and divisions is essential to prevent the complete breakdown of the social fabric. We are concerned by the widespread attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure vital to helping people survive, cope and recover from the conflict, including
attacks on health clinics, roads and critical water infrastructure.
The situation in Sudan is dire and without a concerted strong push for peace talks the conflict
will only worsen. The international community cannot continue to turn a blind eye to Sudan.
We must act decisively to bring the parties to the negotiation table and work towards a
sustainable resolution of the conflict.
We therefore call on the international community to:
- Greatly increase diplomatic efforts regionally and internationally to end the interference
and funding of the conflict by external powers; as well as to urge the parties to the
conflict to end the attacks on civilians and secure a ceasefire; - Increase funding and diversify funding channels and sources to ensure support
reaches local actors, including community-based groups and faith-based
organisations, who are on the frontline of life-saving efforts; - Ensure inclusive dialogue and a wider political process that can effectively address
root causes of the violence in Sudan; including through support for locally led initiatives
that promote peace and reconciliation; - Ensure adherence to international human rights law and international humanitarian law
by all parties; in particular towards ensuring safe unimpeded humanitarian access to
those most in need, into and throughout Sudan.
Signed by:
ACT Alliance
Caritas Internationalis
World Council of Churches
All Africa Conference of Churches
Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa
Caritas Africa
