AFRICA/SUDAN-"The Church of northern and southern Sudan must remain united, " says a missionary

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) - The independence of southern Sudan, on July 9, is approaching and there is a growing concern for the fate of Christians in northern Sudan. As underlined Fr. Asfaha Yohannes Weldeghiorghis, Ethiopian origin Comboni missionary, pastor of Nyala, capital of south Darfur in an interview for Sudan Catholic Radio (SCR), Christians in the north are mostly of southern origin and the support of the Churches of the South are expected.
The missionary added that, since the faithful of the two countries have deep human, spiritual and family ties, they have to remain united, just like the Church of North and South Sudan must remain united after independence, to offer mutual support. Fr. Asfaha also claimed that the Church of the North does not have the same rights of worship as for Muslims, and fears the worst after the independence of South Sudan.
In the meantime, the tension between north and south does not decrease, in particular for the crucial issue of Abyei, claimed by both sides for its oil reserves. Abyei should have been the object of a separate referendum to be held together with that of 9 January on the independence of southern Sudan . The population of the area had to decide whether Abyei should be included in northern or southern Sudan, but because of the tensions between the two parties the referendum was not held. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 19/05/2011)