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Africa

Sudan : The Dinka People and The Lost Boys

I had pretty much always thought that Africa was so riddled with war that there really wasn't much I could do about it. In fact, I had heard such clichés as “Africans have always been killing each other; it's just how they are” for so long that I just accepted them.

It has been a challenge for me to get beyond such deeply ingrained clichés. That process began for me when my husband and I first discovered 19 African immigrant children being held in a home in Portugal for forced child pornography. I learned how thousands of Africans are fleeing their homes and counties each year in order to get away from the fighting. I learned how vulnerable they are once arriving in a new country to becoming enslaved into such evil as forced prostitution or slavery. I also learned how many slave raiders prey upon them in their own countries.

In Sudan, for example, I had long heard how they have experienced the longest running civil war in all of Africa – 21 years. The Peace Treaty was just signed January 9th 2005.  It wasn't until I began spending time in Sudan that I learned first, it was not a ‘civil' war and secondly, it has been going on since the 1950's (much longer than 21 years) when Great Britain pulled out of Sudan. Here is what the people of Sudan shared with me and asked me to tell others. During the ‘great days' of Colonialism, Great Britain had colonized Sudan. Sudan considered itself to be a Christian nation. However, due to much pressure from the outside world and the rising unpopularity of colonialism combined with the expense of maintaining the life of the colonies, Great Britain withdrew from Sudan. Their statement of withdrawal was a noble one, as our self-defining Western statements usually are when we make a decision that we know will hurt many innocent people. It was, “We are giving freedom to Sudan.”

Sudanese boys getting water

Sudan had freedom and independence prior to being colonized. But after being invaded and colonized for centuries, they became a subservient people and dependent upon a Super Power to protect and care for them. With Great Britain 's withdrawal, the people of Sudan didn't feel “free”; they felt abandoned and vulnerable.

Immediately upon Great Britain 's withdrawal, the Arabic Muslims from Northern Africa invaded Sudan. Forced conversions ensued with mass murder, rape, castration and/or enslavement for those who would not convert.

The primary motivation for this invasion is Grach. Grach is an Arabic Muslim term used for what they call their Holy Land. Africa is a resource rich and beautiful continent; it contains a wealth of oil, diamonds, uranium, iron and natural gas. The name Grach comes from the name of the tribe from which their prophet, Mohamed, came. The Arabic Muslim invasion of Sudan (and all of Africa for that matter) will not stop until they have established complete control of their Grach.

Sudan is a large country, nearly one-quarter the size of the United States. These Muslims were quickly able to gain control of the northern half of Sudan. But an indigenous army formed in the southern region of Sudan and began fighting to protect their land and people from further invasion. They were not able to restore the north but did retain the southern half of Sudan as independent and Christian. This is why this war cannot be called a civil war. Sudanese are not fighting against Sudanese. Rather, it was an invading people who set up headquarters in the northern part of the country still trying to invade the southern half of the country. The army of the invading Arabic Muslims in Sudan is called the Janjaweed. Osama Bin Laden spent many years in Northern Sudan training the Janjaweed.

To call what has been happening in Sudan a civil war is as ridiculous as if Osama Bin Laden's attack on the U.S. had resulted in him establishing his headquarters in the rubble of the Pentagon, then from that vantage point, him working to invade and take over the rest of the country and us calling it a civil war.

Through the decades, as the war ravaged Southern Sudan, more than 2million people were killed, mostly Christians. This was a poor people who had been colonized for the last couple of centuries, now alone, and against a wealthy Arabic army. Thousands of orphans were left to fend for themselves in the desert. Many children were trafficked and enslaved.  Girls were captured and forced to marry Muslim men or become sex slaves. The boys were particularly vulnerable to being forced to fight in the Janjaweed to kill their own people.

In the early 90s, over 20,000 orphan boys survived lion attack, near starvation and the Janjaweed. They traveled together to avoid being forced into the Janjaweed until reaching northern Kenya . There many were given Visas to enter the U.S., Great Britain, Australia and other countries where they were housed and educated.

One Lost Boy, James Lual, had the same opportunity to immigrate to the U.S. However, shortly before his departure date, James felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon his life so strongly that he voluntarily chose to stay behind. He knew there were many more orphans in the desert and bush of Sudan who were helpless and at risk to human trafficking. He felt it his calling to go back and minister to them.

James Lual Atak, MWP Director of Indigenous Ministry, Sudan

James is the founder and MWP Director of our indigenous ministry in his home county, Aweil. For the first few years, James was laughed at by the locals for coming ‘home' to ‘nothing'. They told him he was foolish and that no one would come to help him. James remained faithful and began finding orphans. He now has over 300 orphans and 100 community children under his care with the help of twelve teachers, three cook and security. Make Way Partners is honored to provide the funds for food for these precious children as well as the staff salaries. We have also built school buildings, medical clinic, church, provided for a daily feeding program, drilled five wells, and are continuing to grow our partnership and support of James and this indigenous ministry. The Dinka People of Aweil County are a particular burden on our hearts as they were the hardest hit by the Janjaweed. Aweil County is just below what is now called Northern Sudan where the Arabic Muslims have control. They have also experienced the highest rate of victims being taken as slaves due to the only train from Northern Sudan ending in Aweil County. Virtually all schools, churches, clinics and homes have been bombed or burned.

Make Way Partners seeks to help the Dinka People to rebuild their lives and communities. With the signing and holding of the January 9, 2005 Peace Treaty, Christians from the West have an awesome opportunity and responsibility to stand beside our brothers and sisters in Christ who have lost all for His name's sake, as well as, extend Christs-love and forgivness to the Muslim community who have been a part of the on-going persecution. Hebrews 13:3 tells us to remember those who suffer as if we ourselves were suffering. Through the rebuilding of schools, medical clinics, homes, pure water systems, churches and means for livelihood we invite other Christians to work side by side with us and the Dinka people of Sudan.

Kimberly L. Smith
Executive Director

      James Lual Atak: MWP Director of Indigenous Ministry, Sudan