Update from Bill Lowrey
March 10, 2000

Previous        Updates Home        Next

10 March 2000

Dear Friends and Family,

This is an update just so you know that I am here in the country (USA) and some major changes in my role are underway.  I have pretty limited information on the issues behind this development so I will not try to fill in all the gaps at this time.

I had planned to go to Kenya and Sudan to assist the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) with the Nilotic East Bank Peace conference scheduled for March.  There were a couple of delays due to political and security concerns in the area where the conference was scheduled to take place. In addition, there was growing turbulence related to the political movements as well as church issues. 

Some of you have probably read of the political confusion in the Upper Nile related to the formation of a new political movement under the chairmanship of Dr. Wal Duany, the resignation of Dr. Riek Machar from the Government of Sudan, Dr. Machar's return to southern Sudan and his forming of another new political movement.  Church leaders in the Upper Nile are also divided in their loyalties to these groups. 

In addition, international news has focused attention on conflict between some of the largest international Non-Government Organizations, (like CARE, Oxfam, World Vision, Save the Children) who have refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the mainstream rebel movement, the SPLM, and its humanitarian wing, the SRRA.  As a result of the MOU controversy many expatriate humanitarian workers have been withdrawn from southern Sudan and the European Union has cut off humanitarian aid to the south.  The feelings are intense on all sides and there is a heightened sensitivity among Sudanese about the roles of expatriates.

Rumors, accusations and political maneuvers are strong in Nairobi, placing the New Sudan Council of Churches in a difficult spot as it seeks to work with all parties and carry on the work of peace and reconciliation.  In that context NSCC has decided that I should not continue to work with them at this time in the People-to-People peace process.  Therefore, my trip has been canceled.

I urge you to continue in prayer and support for NSCC as they provide leadership during this trying period.  They are trying to resolve the issues that have forced delays in the Nilotic East Bank Conference and want to move forward with that conference as soon as they are able.  Particularly hold in prayer Dr. Haruun Ruun, the Executive Secretary, and Telar Deng, the Peace Desk Facilitator.

The southern peace process has reached a particularly difficult stage because of the political changes that have occurred as the people have been coming together and finding ways to peacefully resolve their differences.  Always, the role of NSCC (and the position I have continually taken) has been to help facilitate the coming together of conflicted parties and provide a process for them to form their own solutions.  In these last few months that has resulted in the breaking away of large segments of population from alliances with the government and the resulting formation of new political groups and realignment of forces.  This is not a smooth process, and the substance of the decisions belongs only to the Sudanese themselves. 

The role of the NSCC in the People-to-People peace process is critical to the whole southern reconciliation.  In addition, the role of indigenous political organizations, indigenous and international Non-Government Organizations, the UN Operation LifeLine Sudan, the IGAD peace process countries of the Horn of Africa and governments from outside the region are all key players with a variety of roles.  If this process, started and facilitated by the churches, is to eventually bring about the full unity of the south and contribute to a macro solution to the war in Sudan, it will take many players making a variety of contributions. 

My future role is uncertain.  In the next few months I will continue to assess the situation and respond as necessary.  I am very thankful for all the progress that has been made in the last twenty months since the Loki Accord was signed between a few Dinka and Nuer Chiefs and church leaders.  There is very little south-south fighting taking place now in all of southern Sudan.  But the emerging political, organizational and military alignments are still difficult to see through the fog of so many changes.  NSCC and the churches will be key players in the on-going processes.  My personal relationship with the leadership of NSCC is good, and we will continue to have contact from time to time.  The future of that relationship will have to unfold over time.

Thank you for all your interest, prayers and support over this extended period of time.  I will keep in touch with you as events warrant and the way forward becomes more clear.

Blessings and Peace,
Bill Lowrey  
lowreywo@cs.com

Previous        Updates Home        Next