WCC News: Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan visits WCC

Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris met with World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay on 5 February to discuss the government’s new peace and reconstruction plan. World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay welcomes the Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris at the WCC office in Geneva on 5 February 2026. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 06 February 2026 Idris, along with a delegation from the Republic of Sudan, also met with UN officials this week while visiting Geneva. Pillay welcomed the Prime Minister and his delegation, emphasizing: “In these difficult times of many global crises, it is imperative that people of goodwill work together for justice, peace, reconciliation, and unity of all human beings and all creation.” Pillay presented the work of the WCC for peace in many parts of the world, including in the Middle East, in Colombia, and in several African contexts.  The Sudanese delegation included H.E. Ambassador Hassan Hamid Hassan, Permanent Representative of Sudan in Geneva, H.E. Nazar Abdalla, director of the Office of the Prime Minister, H.E. Ambassador Baderldin Ali Mohamed Elguaifri, advisor to the Prime Minister, Nasreldin Hamad Adam Eltayeb, counsellor for the Permanent Mission of Sudan in Geneva, Omar Shareef Hamad Eisa, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Sudan in Geneva, and Nafisa Hussein, Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Sudan in Geneva.  Accompanying the WCC general secretary were: Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Life, Justice, and Peace; Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs; Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme executive for peace building in the Middle East; and Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of communication. The situation in Sudan has been on the ecumenical agenda for over five decades. The roots of the conflict lie in its history of slavery and colonialism and date back to 1956 when the country gained independence from Great Britain. The situation today, however, after almost four years of brutal and destructive conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, is the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe. The number of internally displaced people in Sudan is estimated at 9.2 million, mostly in the Darfur region, while 4.3 million people have fled to neighbouring countries since this conflict broke out in April 2023. Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan, Professor Kamil Idriss along with the delegation from Republic of Sudan visited the World Council of Churches, meeting with the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay on 5 February 2026. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC During the visit, Prime Minister Idris presented his government’s proposed peace initiative and invited the WCC general secretary to attend the first consultation in this process, planned during the first part of 2026. “The Sudanese government is convening inclusive international and national conferences to reestablish community peace, reconciliation, and national healing, in cooperation with the United Nations, international and regional organizations, donors, and sisterly and friendly states, to address the impacts of war, mend the social fabric, and create a healthy societal environment,” he said. Idris added: “Sudan is facing an existential crisis as a result of the war waged by the rebel militia in blatant violation of all international laws and norms. This has led to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and has undermined regional and international stability.” Idris underlined: “The peace initiative is aiming to convene Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue during the transitional period, through which political forces shall agree on how to govern and manage the state. This shall be followed by free and fair elections under international supervision to complete the requirements of comprehensive democratic transformation.” He added that the WCC can play a vital role in creating better religious tolerance and relationships in Sudan. The WCC offered an overview of its ecumenical peacebuilding initiatives in Sudan and South Sudan over the past years, referring especially to the ecumenical delegation visit to Sudan from 18-22 April 2024, including meetings with the President and the Vice President. Mtata said: “The joint ecumenical solidarity visit signified a collective commitment to stand with the churches and people of Sudan in their time of need, offering both spiritual and moral support as they strive for peace, healing, and reconciliation.” Pillay stressed “the importance to continue the efforts to achieve peace and working together for the common good. As people of faith, we are called to stand together in solidarity with one another for justice and peace, upholding each other in prayers, supporting those who are made vulnerable socially and economically, the displaced persons, and those who have lost their means of livelihood due to crisis and disaster.” He concluded the meeting with prayers – Christians and Muslims praying together. Pillay said: “The WCC conveys its solidarity, support, and prayer to all the churches and people of Sudan and South Sudan as they seek to fulfil their essential ministry for justice, reconciliation, unity, and human dignity and rights. We pray that you may experience the presence and the love of God even amid these challenges.” Photo gallery: Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan visits WCC WCC meets president of Sudan for discussion of roadmap to peace (WCC news release, 26 April 2024) In solidarity visit to Sudan, WCC strengthens foundations for peace (WCC news release, 25 April 2024) Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris along with a delegation from the Republic of Sudan met with World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and other WCC representatives on 5 February 2026. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland