Scottish Catholic Observer

Fear of abduction is spreading in Sudan amid a spate of kidnappings by militia who are targeting minority groups in the hunt for new soldiers.

Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur (above) of Khartoum has reported that since November there has been an upsurge of abductions in which young men have been taken from their homes at night.

He said the young men, many of them university students, are being forced to fight against the Government of South Sudan and the South-Sudan-based Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). The newly independent, and mainly Christian, South Sudan broke away from the then mainly Muslim north of the country after a referendum on independence last year.

Bishop Adwok, Speaking from Kosti, south of Khartoum, has told the charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the problem of kidnappings had worsened considerably and that Christians felt particularly at risk as many belong to the South Sudan tribes targeted by the militia.

The bishop said the fear of being abducted was deterring youngsters from attending liturgical celebrations on Sundays and feast days. He said concern about kidnappings was threatening to ‘overshadow’ the annual celebrations of St Josephine Bakhita, Sudan’s national saint, whose festivities were transferred to Friday, the equivalent of Sunday in a country run in accordance with Shari’a law.

“The situation with the militia groups is becoming difficult especially for those who are preparing to return to their homeland [in South Sudan],” Bishop Adwok said. “The militia seem to have the upper hand. They can do whatever they want and the government will not stop them or oppose what they are doing.”

The bishop was speaking after the release of two priests, Fr Joseph Makwey and Fr Sylvester Mogga, who were abducted by militia from their parish of St Josephine Bakhita, in Rabak, the parish neighbouring him in Kosti. He explained that the two priests, who were held for two weeks beginning from January 15 and that they were beaten by men wielding a ‘metal instrument.’

The militia holding them demanded a ransom of 500,000 Sudanese pounds, a sum the Church refused to pay. Under pressure from the government in Khartoum and other influential bodies, the priests were released and were sent to hospital for health checks to be followed by therapy and rest.

Bishop Adwok said clergy and lay people were increasingly frightened about the threat of abduction.

“People are uncertain about the future,” he added. “The pressure is greater than it was a year ago.

“There are more abductions now than in the past. People from the south [tribes based in South Sudan] and people from Southern Kordofan area are at risk of abduction. Such tribes include many Christians. Those who are abducted and who are found to be unable to join the military are asked to pay money to bail themselves out.”