Darfuri Muslims are working with Christians to build a church in Southern Sudan as a symbol of reconciliation and gratitude.

The Muslims, members of the Darfur Students Association at the University of Juba, say they want to express gratitude to Lopez Lomong, a Sudan-born American track and field athlete who has publicly urged China to pressure the Sudanese government to end the conflict in Darfur.

Lomong had the honour of carrying the US flag in the Opening Ceremony at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He is a member of Team Darfur, a coalition of Olympic athletes that call for the end to the violence against Darfurians.

“We appreciate that Lopez stood up for us in Beijing,” said Rudwan Dawod, president of the Darfur Students Association at the University of Juba, in a statement this week. “We are helping to build this church to show we never again want the people of Darfur to be used against their brothers in the South.”

Around 200 Darfuri Muslims have volunteered to build the Roman Catholic church in Kimotong, Southern Sudan – the home village of Lomong. The construction process began in January and is slated to be completed this fall.

"As Sudanese Christians celebrate Holy Week, we want them all to know about this church,” said Dr Abdelgabar Adam, the president of Darfur Human Rights Organisations USA. “It is our way, as Darfuri Muslims, to thank every Sudanese Christian who has helped us in our hour of need.

“We need our brothers in the South to stand with us now more than ever, so that we will have a just peace,” added Adam, whose organisation is partnering with Kansas-based non-profit group Sudan Sunrise in sponsoring the reconciliation church project.

Composed of American and Sudanese Christians and Muslims, Sudan Sunrise works to achieve reconciliation and end the oppression in Sudan. The organisation also works with Sudanese born former NBA player Manute Bol, who at 7’7’’ is the tallest player in NBA history.

Bol lost 250 family members at the hands of the Muslim North during the Second Sudanese Civil War. He is working with Sudan Sunrise to build 41 schools that will benefit Southern Sudanese Christian, Darfurian and Muslim children alike.