1. What are the historical origins of Sudan’s religious divides?
Christianity spread to Sudan in the sixth century and usurped the tradition of a polytheistic canon of gods. Byzantine missionaries arrived in 540 CE preaching Christianity, but the conversion process had begun earlier with Coptic missionaries from Egypt in the fourth century. Islamization began mid-seventh century after several failed military conquests with the creation of renewed treaties with the rulers of northern Sudan, governing relations between the Arabs and people of Sudan, and allowing conversion to Islam through intermarriage and contact with Arab settlers and merchants. After the exchanging of regional powers over the next several centuries, but the Anglo-European agreement in 1899 restored Egyptian rule and increased Christian missionary activity. The North-South divide increased because of British influence from conquests, but were merged into a single administrative region without consulting the Southerners who feared subordination by the political power of the North. Tension increased between the north and south as independence approached, and the religious conflict erupted into a series of wars that got religious councils from across the world involved.
2. How were domestic religious forces and identities involved?
Northern Sudan has been traditionally tied to Arab Muslim culture, and benefitted from higher rates of development, while the South is primarily poor and comprised of Christian and indigenous (animistic) African religions.Religious identity was important, but not the only dividing factor that caused the Sudanese civil wars. Before the official secession of South Sudan, 70% of Sudan's population was Muslim, and 90% of them lived in the North.The Addis Ababa Agreement ended the First Sudanese Civil War and made the South a single administrative region, but never fully addressed their concerns for autonomy or religious tensions. The enactment of sharia (Islamic law) as state law by President Nimeiry in September 1983 created a second uprising, and despite the restoration of democracy in 1986, the SPLA refused to recognize the government's authority and Nimeiry's laws remained. This contributed to the separation of the North and the South as the South tried to escape oppression under sharia law. Christian conversions increased in the South and religious conflict continued. The Second Sudanese Civil War, from 1983-2005, lasted until the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which initiated religious tolerance between the Islamic and Christian communities. The South Sudan Council of Churches, Muslim leaders, and the Inter-Religious Council are also involved in peace-making efforts.
3. How important are international religious and political forces?
Since independence and the rule of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan has had a trouble relationship with the international community. Aggressive Islamization policies and the support of rebel groups support the regional loyalty that initially sparked the conflict. The United States has listed Sudan as a sponsor of terrorism since 1993, and the report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom depicts Sudan as one of the most violent abusers of the rights to freedom of religion and belief. In the North, churches cannot be built and Christian organizations constantly face harassment. After the 1998 U.S. embassy bombing, the Sudanese government has begun to moderate positions, and the condemnation of government support for militias began taking hold in Sudan, especially in the Darfur region. Christian organizations, such as Servant's Heart and Safe Harbor International, began raising national awareness for the conflicts in Sudan, especially concerned by the mistreatment of southern Sudanese people. Catholic and Anglican bishops in Sudan are sponsored by American churches to visit the U.S. and discuss the suffering of their parishioners. International political figures have spoken out about the lack of human rights and religious tolerance in Sudan, leading Western religious leaders to recognize the need for support in Sudan. The issue of slavery still proves controversial in Sudan, an issue that is condemned by Western leaders.
4. What role have socioeconomic factors played?
The reliance on slavery in Sudan's economy results in global issues, lacking support from universal and Western leaders who condemn enslavement and slave trading. The addition of faith-based groups, such as goodwill missions from the U.S., bring aid to help the political situation and offer services to promote peace. These American groups initiated the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) as a way of setting up peace talks and reaching religious tolerance despite the differences of North and South Sudan. The New Sudan Council of Churches established ecumenical organizations that resulted in the end of their Second Civil War, creating a period of peace that hadn't been experienced in a long time since the poorer, less acknowledged Souther government suffered through the Islam-based Northern government of elites.