Touring War-Torn Sudan

Jet, Dec 11, 2000

TOURING WAR-TORN SUDAN: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Susan Rice walks through the ramshackle market in Marial Bai, southern Sudan, accompanied by staff members and soldiers and officials from the Sudan People's Liberation Army. Rice was on a two-day trip to southern Sudan, which has borne the brunt of a 17-year civil war between the predominantly Christian south, which is seeking greater autonomy and religious freedom, and the largely Muslim government of the north.

Rice said that the problems of the people of southern Sudan, including abductions, slavery and airstrikes, have captured the sympathy of Americans. "I'm here to show the world, despite what the government of Khartoum says, despite what some of our partners in the European Union pretend ... slavery exists," Rice stated.