"The courageous Sudanese who have stood firm against the jihad waged for decades against them, deserve the peace, justice, religious freedom, and secular democracy for which they are striving. The U.S. has a critical role in making this New Sudan a reality." --Faith J. H. McDonnell, Director, Church Alliance for a New Sudan

Contact: Loralei Coyle, The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- IRD's Church Alliance for a New Sudan (CANS) applauds the scheduled opening of the new Government of South Sudan Mission to the United States. Dedication of the mission will take place Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 1:00 p.m., at 1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 605. The media is invited. Senior-level Government of South Sudan (GOSS) ministers and a minister of the Government of National Unity, the body formed by the blending of the National Congress Party in Khartoum and the SPLA, will be the guests of honor. Also participating in the opening ceremony will be the U.S. Presidential Envoy for Sudan, H.E. Andrew Natsios; the Assistant Secretary for State for African Affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazer; and the Senior State Department Representative on Sudan, Lauren Landis.

Faith J. H. McDonnell, Director, Church Alliance for a New Sudan, released the following:

"This month (January 2007) marks the second anniversary of the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), and the Islamist regime in Khartoum has done little to honor the commitment it has made to peace and justice for the people of South Sudan and all of the other marginalized areas.

"We look forward to working with the staff of the Government of South Sudan Mission to the United States. The courageous Sudanese who have stood firm against the jihad waged for decades against them, deserve the peace, justice, religious freedom, and secular democracy for which they are striving. The U.S. has a critical role in making this New Sudan a reality. In turn, we believe, progress in South Sudan will help bring freedom and peace to Darfur, where the Khartoum regime and its proxy militias are waging genocide.

"South Sudan is one part of the world where the United States does not have to 'win the hearts and minds of the people.' The Southern Sudanese are deeply grateful to the United States, and particularly to President Bush, for all that has been done to end Sudan's first genocide, which killed some 2.5 million people.

"They also understand the war against Islamofacism, since they have been fighting it for the last half a century. We should learn from their experience."

Special Note: U.S. Representative Donald Payne, Chairman of the House Sub-Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations, will hold a hearing on the status of the CPA later in the week. Payne, one of the great advocates for Southern Sudan in the U.S. Congress, will also attend the opening of the Government of South Sudan Mission.