Pope Francis issued a plea on Sunday for the warring factions in Sudan to lay down their weapons, expressing deep sadness over the ongoing violence that has plagued the African nation for over a month. According to Salt Wire, addressing pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, the pope urged the international community to spare no effort in promoting dialogue and alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people. In addition, he emphasized the importance of supporting war-torn Ukraine.
The Vatican announced that Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italian bishops' conference, would undertake a peace mission to help end the conflict in Ukraine. Zuppi aims to meet separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, in Sudan, a seven-day ceasefire agreement was signed between the country's army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). However, the situation remains dire, with over 800 civilian deaths reported during the violent power struggle between the Sudanese army and RSF.
The pope's appeal comes as a call to end conflicts and violence, highlighting the need for a lasting resolution. Previous ceasefire attempts have faltered, but this latest agreement includes a cease-fire monitoring mechanism supported by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the international community.
The truce aims to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the restoration of essential services. The breakdown of law and order, along with the absence of basic services, has led to widespread looting and humanitarian crises across Sudan. Human rights abuses by both sides have been reported, prompting condemnation from the United Nations and rights organizations.
(With AP Inputs)
