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Buying the freedom of slaves in Sudan
December 20, 1997
Web posted at: 3:50 p.m. EST (2050 GMT)BAHR EL GHAZAL, Sudan (CNN) -- A global charity is fighting the internationally condemned slave trade in Sudan in its own way -- by buying the freedom of slaves and reuniting them, mostly boys and girls, with their families.
Christian Solidarity International estimates that tens of thousands of children and adults have been snatched from their homes in the southern part of the African nation and brought to the north by suspected members of the northern government militia, known as the Popular Defense Force.
The practice stems from the lengthy civil war between forces loyal to the government in the predominantly Arab-Muslim north, and rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army in the mainly Christian and animist south.
CNN's Joie Chen examines the business of slave trading the Sudan
2 min. 5 sec. VXtreme video
I N C O N T E X T The practice of slavery is strong in Sudan as an outgrowth of a lengthy civil war -- much to the dismay of the United Nations and human rights groups. Tribal militias routinely capture women and children as war booty, according to the annual report from Human Rights Watch. Earlier this year, U.N. officials called on the Sudanese government to carry out its pledge to investigate cases of slavery, forced labor and similar practices. The conflict and related famine have killed an estimated 1.3 million people since the mid-1980s, when the SPLA took up arms to end what they see as domination of southern Sudan by the north.
The southerners are said to be seeking autonomy and an end to Islamic Sharia law.
CSI has so far managed to buy the freedom of dozens of slaves for about $100 apiece or three cows per person, the organization said.
Among those freed through CSI intervention was 13-year-old Akuac Malong, who was enslaved for six years and had despaired of ever seeing her home and family again. She was abducted from her village of Madhor, in the southern province of Bahr El Ghazal.
Malong related a terrifying tale of beatings and circumcision.
"The master said, 'If you are not circumcised, I will kill you, because you are still holding the ideas of your people and may try to escape back to them,'" the girl recalled. Other slaves who were rescued had similar tales.
One CSI representative strongly criticized the Sudanese government in Khartoum.
"The government is aiming to completely destroy the social fabric of the Dinka people in this area. They regard them as enemies, because they resist the forced Islamisation and forced Arabisation policies of the regime." John Ebner said.
"I am horrified that the government in Khartoum have not any measures to end slavery," said Dinka lawyer Peter Nyot Kok. He has been supporting the cause of his people from abroad, but returned to witness the release of several former slaves.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related sites:
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- Christian Solidarity International
- Coalition Against Slavery in Mauritania and Sudan
- Human Rights Watch - Sudan
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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