Cardinal says Sudan must guarantee rights or face peace deal collapse

Published: 2005-09-26

LONDON (CNS) -- The fragile peace process in Sudan is in danger of collapsing into civil war unless the Islamic government guarantees the rights of non-Muslims, said a Sudanese cardinal. Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako of Khartoum told a press conference in London Sept. 23 that the success of the peace settlement depended "very much on the good will of those who are in power." "I think there is hope of peace, but I don't think it's going to be a quick job," the cardinal told Catholic News Service after the meeting. "We are going to have to work at it and build it slowly and carefully. It depends on whether the government is committed to building peace or to things that would make people start the war again," he added. During the press conference, the cardinal said people hoped the "new Sudan" would include "more justice, more respect for people" and that marginalized people would "be taken care of and ... enjoy the same citizenship as everyone else."

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