Pope Francis calls for end of hostilities in Sudan as death toll climbs

Pope Francis has urged warring parties in Sudan to put an end to a 10-month conflict that has uprooted millions and raised fears of starvation.

Francis stated this during his Angelus message.

Pope Francis said the war has caused damage to the people and the future of the country.

He called for prayers “so that avenues of peace will soon be found for the future of beloved Sudan.”

In his traditional Sunday address, the pope also mentioned conflicts in Mozambique, Ukraine, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.

Pope Francis added that, “Wherever there is fighting, populations are exhausted, they are tired of war, which is always useless, inconclusive and will only bring death and destruction and will never lead to a solution to the problem.”

Diplomatic talks to end the raging conflict between the country’s armed forces and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have failed.

The country slipped into war on April 15, 2023, with fighting largely concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region.

As of January 21, 2024, at least 13,000–15,000 people had been killed and 33,000 others were injured.

Reports say over 5.8 million people were internally displaced, more than 1.5 million others had fled the country as refugees,and many civilians in Darfur have been reported dead as part of the 2023 Masalit massacres.