The violence that broke out in Sudan this week dashed the hopes of millions there who had hoped for peace since 2019, when a popular revolution ousted the African nation’s longtime dictator. News reports say British and American negotiators thought they were close, even last week, to a deal that would lead to democracy. Then gunshots shattered their work. A month ago I was in South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan in 2011 after a long civil war. Our group talked to a mediator who works behind the scenes on projects like freeing hostages taken by warring factions. He disabused us of notions that peace work is romantic, sweet and nice. “Peace is difficult,” he said. “Peace is expensive. Peace can get you killed.” – Fletcher Farrar, editor
This article appears in Field of dreams.
