The Task of Rebuilding Southern Sudan 

In January 2005 Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addressed a rally in the southern Sudan town of Juba, a population center not far from the Ugandan border.  A peace agreement had just been signed in Kenya bringing a promised end to decades of civil war in south Sudan. With international dignitaries as witnesses, including then U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, the world welcomed this peace accord, even as it worried that lasting peace in eastern Africa has always seemed to be a tenuous affair. 

The peace agreement that was so long in coming calls for the mostly Christian south Sudan to be run autonomously for six years followed by a vote to determine its possible independence. The new promise of wealth in the country of Sudan is tied to the rich oil fields of southern Sudan. Oil revenues are to be split equally between north and south Sudan.      

In the land of poor roads, little infrastructure, a shattered societal structure, the podium speakers spoke of the rebuilding process and encouraged those displaced to other areas of Sudan by literally decades of fierce warfare to return back to south Sudan. In the months that have followed that ceremony in Juba the displaced Sudanese have begun the difficult trip by foot, bus and boat to return to what had been their homeland. The journey home is made more difficult and dangerous by roving bands of militia who are eager to prey on the defenseless travelers. There are no police, no authorities for protection.   

This internal living river of millions (yes millions) is joined by countless (rough estimates of 350,000) survivors from the many refugee camps in neighboring Kenya and Uganda. They are primarily young men coming back across the national border who fled Sudan as mere children, just one step ahead of the marauding soldiers. Many have spent 10 years or more living in the refugee camps that were created by these neighboring countries but largely supplied and staffed by international relief and humanitarian agencies. All have horrific stories to tell. All have lost family members. All are seeking to be reunited with surviving family members and to start the journey of rebuilding their lives.  

As many as four to six million displaced from southern Sudan may end up finding their collective and individual way back. Back home. Six million equals the population of Massachusetts, or of New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut combined. 

United Nation officials have termed the task of rebuilding southern Sudan not as reconstruction but construction, so little remains. Reportedly there are a mere 10 miles of paved road in all of southern Sudan. Schools and churches have been destroyed and health services are sparse at best.  Making the situation all the worse is that considerable UN and relief organization funding and attention is still focused on the western Darfur region where no peace accord exists and where the displacement of the indigenous population has been estimate at a staggering eight million men, women and children. 

International Christian organizations like World Relief, World Vision and Samaritan’s Purse are playing a vital and broad role in the rebuilding of southern Sudan. Other organizations such as Project Education Sudan are focused primarily on rebuilding the primary and secondary educational structure in the south (see Links). 

Life for Sudan enthusiastically supports the efforts of these and other organizations. We seek to work collaboratively with New England churches and individuals to identify specific needs and projects and help marshal the resources required to meet those needs.

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