KHARTOUM – Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Saturday called for rejecting hatred and division among Sudanese, while his deputy Malik Agar stressed national unity during a peace prayer event organized by the Sudanese Council of Churches at the Khartoum International Fair.

The gathering brought together representatives of different Christian denominations under the theme “Come With One Heart… Together We Pray for Sudan” and included prayers for security, stability and relief from the suffering caused by the war.

Addressing participants, Al-Burhan said heavenly religions call for love, peace and fraternity, stressing the importance of cooperation and solidarity and of standing against rhetoric that spreads hatred and hostility among Sudanese people.

The event comes amid the war that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, which has caused mass displacement and disrupted services and civilian life, including in Khartoum.

Al-Burhan expressed hope that Sudan would achieve security, stability and peace, saying prayers for peace help spread love and reassurance.

He also praised religious leaders and clergy from different Christian denominations for their prayers for Sudan and its people.

Agar said the event reflected the meaning of national unity, pointing to the participation of different Christian denominations and stressing that peace is a fundamental human and religious value shared across faiths.

The head of the Sudanese Council of Churches called on participants to observe a moment of silence for those who lost their lives, recalling what he described as sacrifices that helped make it possible for Sudanese people to gather again in Khartoum.

He also called on Sudanese living abroad to return home and reject division, while thanking the government and Al-Burhan for what he described as efforts to manage the country and restore security and stability.

The prayers also focused on Sudan’s recovery from the effects of war and the preservation of national unity and social cohesion.