A Lasting Peace?

The Movement for Liberation and Justice, an umbrella group comprised of 10 rebel groups fighting against the Sudanese government, has signed a ceasefire agreement -- according to Sudan's state-run media. The agreement was signed last week in Doha, Qatar, by Sudanese official Ghazi Salahuddin and Al-Tigani Sessi of the Movement for Liberation and Justice. Qatar has been mediating talks between the two sides in the Darfur conflict.

In the past seven years, more than 300,000 people have been killed through direct combat, disease or malnutrition, according to the United Nations. An additional 2.7 million people fled their homes because of fighting among rebels, government forces and allied militias. According to United Nations’ spokespersons as well Western government representatives and numerous human rights orgainzations, the Sudanese government launched a brutal counter-insurgency campaign, aided by government-backed Arab militias that went from village to village in Darfur, killing, torturing and raping residents.

Last year, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court with genocide in connection with the government's campaign of violence in Darfur.

Let’s pray that peace is truly at hand.