Catholic Missionary Urges Action in Africa’s Humanitarian Crises

The Unseen Struggles Amidst Africa’s Humanitarian Crises

As conflicts persist across Africa, a Catholic missionary urges global attention to the plight of those enduring these crises. Father Diego Dalle Carbonare, with experience in Egypt, Lebanon, and Sudan, emphasizes the need for global solidarity and intervention.

Sudan’s history is marred by ongoing civil wars, now exacerbated by the tension between the RSF and SAF, factions born from former allies. Similarly, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces turmoil, with government forces battling the M23 group, allegedly supported by Rwanda, alongside attacks from Islamist militants.

Father Carbonare highlights, “The Catholic Church teaches that we share a common home. Distance should not be an issue. What is happening in Sudan, what is happening in Africa, to civilians, children and women, concerns all of us in some way.”

He further stresses, “We all believe in a judgement. One day, God will examine us, and many will be surprised when he asks about forgotten wars. As citizens, we have the duty to ask our governments to do whatever that is in their power to stop wars and to regulate the weapons and the gold trade, which is what funds wars such as the one in Sudan.”

The ongoing conflicts have significant repercussions for Christians in these regions. In March last year, Christians in Sudan resumed worship in Khartoum following the SAF’s expulsion of the RSF. Despite this, Father Carbonare observes continued hardships, with educational institutions struggling to retain teachers and students.

“Many teachers and their families had to move from place to place, there are even people who fled to South Sudan, people who were almost graduating and suddenly found themselves without work and without a future,” he said.

He recounted the tragic fate of a teacher who was captured and tortured, describing it as a “tragic story” of a man who had aspirations but faced a brutal end.

In another account, a widowed teacher confronted RSF militants. When threatened, she calmly referred to the Gospel, causing the militants to retreat. The next day, they returned seeking forgiveness, illustrating the power of faith in dire circumstances.

Father Carbonare reflects on the dual nature of war, noting its ability to reveal both the extremes of human behavior.