Christian group skeptical as Sudan peace talks resume

Peace talks are to resume this week in Qatar between the government of Sudan and the Darfur Islamist rebels, but one Christian group working to bring peace in the area remains skeptical.

The talks will include the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), however the Sudan Liberation Movement will not be represented.

Ken Little, of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), said that he had seen many attempts at negotiating ceasefires and peace deals end without conclusion.

Asked by Mission Network News if he thought the latest talks would be successful, Little said, "[The] frank response is, 'I really hope it works, but I'm not very hopeful.' If the peace talks are being revived, that might be an indication that international pressure is helping."

The talks come just after increased fighting between government and JEM forces. Last week the government re-took the town of Muhajeriya in South Darfur and has also been bombing other areas of Darfur, an issue expected to be discussed at the talks.

The conflict has already killed over 200,000 people and 2.5 million have been displaced.

The CRWRC is one of six relief groups in Darfur that make up the Global Relief Alliance. Other organisations include World Relief, World Concern, Food for the Hungry, MAP International, and North West Medical Teams International.

Little said that, "We're very fortunate in the last couple of months that the insecurity hasn't impacted our programming. We're able to continue our work with supplemental feeding centers, clinics and food security initiatives in that region."

Due to security concerns, Christian ministry has a low profile in the area of the work of CRWRC. Little says, "We're assisting those displaced by the violence, but also the community that's hosting them."

Little said that through their assistance CRWRC was opening the door for the hope of Christ.

"Because we're doing both, there's a very good reception to our intervention. The folks do know we're Christian, and I would guess that 100 per cent of the folks we're serving are Muslim."