Sudan's bishops are urgently calling for peace amidst an escalating conflict and humanitarian crises, as the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) vows no negotiations until victory is achieved. The Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan (SCBC) are pleading for an end to the devastating war tearing the country apart.

"The fabric of Sudanese society has been torn apart, with people shocked, traumatised, and disbelieving about the level of violence and hatred," the bishops stated. Despite their pleas, the conflict between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shows no signs of abating.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, has firmly closed the door to dialogue, insisting that the battle will continue until victory. "We are continuing in this battle until victory, and I repeat once again that we will not negotiate with an enemy who attacks us and occupies our lands," said General Al-Burhan during a visit to his troops in areas surrounding Khartoum, the epicentre of fierce fighting for over a year.

Al-Burhan has consistently refused international pressure to negotiate, particularly at a proposed table in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He claims, "We will not go to a negotiating table where they (the mediators) want to drag us by our ears, and we will not go to negotiations while the enemy still occupies our homes and plunders our wealth. We will not go to negotiations before the enemy leaves, and they (the mediators) must force them to do so if they want us to negotiate with them."

The humanitarian toll of the conflict is staggering. The RSF's territorial sieges have forced at least 55,000 people to flee Sinja, the capital of Sennar. According to the United Nations, at least 10 million Sudanese have been displaced since the war began in April 2023, often finding themselves trapped in contested areas.

Approximately 80 people have sought refuge in the Catholic mission of Dar Mariam in the Khartoumian district of al-Shajara, a location near an armed forces base that has seen intense fighting. These refugees are enduring dire conditions with insufficient access to clean water and food, and attempts to free them have been unsuccessful.

The bishops condemned the selfish interests driving the conflict, emphasizing that it is not merely a war between two generals. "The military has inextricably embedded itself in the economic life of the country. Both SAF and RSF have networks of wealthy elite Sudanese and international individuals and cartels who benefit from their control of various economic sectors and are linked to external sponsors who continue to provide them with increasingly sophisticated weapons, such as drones," they stated.

The bishops' call for peace highlights the urgent need for an end to the violence and a focus on humanitarian relief for the suffering population.