AFRICANEWS

Book review

Struggling to heard - The Christian voice in Independent Sudan

Struggling to heard - The Christian voice in Independent Sudan 1956-1996 by Gino Barsella and Miguel A. Ayusu Guixot published by Paulines publications, 1998

The book traces the tragic history of Africa's largest country from independence in 1956 to 1996. From the time Sudan's first Prime Minister, Ismail Al-Azhal was sworn in. The book systematically follows the comings and goings of successive regimes in Khartoum and how their policies have accelerated the sowing of the seeds of oppression and discontent among Christians in the Sudan by the enactment of such repressive laws like the missionary Act 1962, which was aimed at curbing the influence of Christian Missionaries, and the Miscellaneous Amendment (Organisation of Voluntary Work) Act 1994, which refers to churches as NGOs, Voluntary Agencies or as "purely human institutions" and ignoring the true nature of the Christian Faith as one of the "heavenly religions".

The authors expose the fact that since independence, the Muslim North, which dominates the political arena in the Sudan, has consistently tried to forge national unity on the basis of Islam and Arabism only. Forceful Islamisation and Arabisation as carried out by the dictator Ibrahim Abboud in the sixties, ensured the expulsion of missionaries, open of Koronic schools (Khalwas) in the South, replacement of English as a medium of instruction in Southern Schools, the "nationalisation" of missionary schools and the abrogation of Sunday as a day of worship in the South. The authors postulate that such repressive laws still abound and continue to be pursued by Khartoum governments, and have largely contributed to the South's calls for succession instead of federation or regional autonomy.

The authors also show how the church throughout Sudan's history, has always been the backbone of opposition to laws that it deems repressive and detrimental to its existence by launching a vocal opposition through its pastoral letters, while at the same time calling for dialogue as a means of solving problems. The authors mention several cases where the government confiscated church property and the church counters by staging .peaceful sit-ins and demonstrations.

In the seas of animosities that exist between the church and state, North and South, the authors mention one sphere of the Northern political scene which is an island of hope because it closely identifies with the cause of Christians in this de facto Islamic country. The group, which called itself the Republican Brothers, propagated the abolition of the Islamic Shariah which it termed as "non-democratic" and "discriminatory". it was also opposed to Jihad, slavery and all forms of discrimination, acts which the Islamic rules have carried out on the Christian population.
Perhaps the most important thematic thesis to come out of this book is that the church has stood the test of time, and it will continue to survive, in the face ,of intense perception from the state, and that Islamisation as a whole has failed achieve its objectives and will continue to do so.

The book itself is well researched and quotes credible sources who have an impeccable understanding of the politics of the Sudan. The authors themselves have exercised a considerable insight into the politics of the Sudan, but this is not surprising as both writers have spent considerable lengths of time inside the country and have been closely working with Christians. Both are Comboni Missionaries and one, Fr. Gino Barsella, was the one time director of the renowned and prestigious Comboni College Secondary School located in the central business district of Khartoum.

Reading the book, one gets the impression that the authors show a bias towards Catholicism. When the authors talk of Christianity, what they actually mean is Catholicism. The authors have reduced other Christian denominations to second place when talking of vocal denunciation of the government's atrocities but with a good reason. In the Sudan, the Catholic Church has been the only church that has consistently been vocal criticizing the state.
To readers in Sudanese history, the book might appear as offering nothing new, but I believe the authors have distinguished themselves by presenting the Christian story in independent Sudan - something which largely been ignored by historians.

The reader also continuously stumbles upon the fact that Christianity under persecution is actually the Christianity from Southern Sudan. The authors have portrayed Christianity of Northern Sudan as not being under any threat (which to a large extent is true), and this leads one to the inevitable conclusion that the title should have read as: STRUGGLING TO BE HEARD - The Christian Voice of Southern Sudan in an independent Sudan.

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