Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 206 – Wed 12 Feb 2003

————————– IVORY COAST: DECISIVE HOUR ————————–

Ivory Coast has reached a critical juncture. The recent French- brokered, UN-backed peace accord was in essence a ‘constitutional coup’ for the militant Islamist rebels, who started the internal conflict with a failed political coup. Ivory Coast’s president, Laurent Gbagbo (a Christian) had agreed to a government of national unity. However, French President Chirac, his foreign minister de Villepin, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Gabon’s Muslim President Omar Bongo promised crucial government positions to the rebels. Now, five of Ivory Coast’s six main political parties, traditional chiefs and the army all refuse to legitimise militant rebels with rewards of government power, and want the accord re- negotiated.

President Gbagbo has told the nation he supports the ‘spirit’ of the accord. He has however promised to negotiate the details according to the constitution. The rebels are of course demanding what the ‘international community’ has promised them. They refused to attend talks held on Monday 10 February, saying there is nothing more to negotiate. They have given President Gbagbo until Friday 14 February to ‘implement the accord in full’ or they will resume their war.

Evidence abounds that the rebels have received training, funds and arms from Burkina Faso, Libya, al-Qaeda and other Islamist networks. The rebels’ agenda is not only political (a coup to install their choice of leader) but Islamist. They have threatened to ‘slaughter’ some Christian leaders and pastors. Many Christians, concerned about a violent rebel advance, are taking their families out of the country to safety.

Ivory Coast has been a haven of peace, liberty, stability and prosperity in West Africa. Because it has full religious freedom it has been the base of much West African Christian mission. The integrity of the nation is now at stake. But the conflict has implications beyond Ivory Coast: if these rebels succeed in Ivory Coast then what is to prevent similar foreign and network sponsored Muslim rebels revolting in other ethnically and religiously mixed nations such as Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The rebels have blamed their lack of success so far on the prayers of Christians. Let’s have the same confidence in the power released through our prayers that they have! Let’s pray!

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR

* God to guide and protect President Gbagbo and his family, Christian leaders, pastors, workers and their families, and anxious believers. ‘The Lord will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross.’ Isaiah 33:21 NLT.

* God to bind demonic forces, frustrate the plans of the wicked, and prevent a rebel takeover of the nation. ‘And everyone will know that the Lord does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours.’ David to Goliath – 1 Samuel 17:47 NLT

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ————————————————————

CRUNCH TIME IN IVORY COAST

Ivory Coast is at a critical juncture. The foreign and network sponsored Islamist rebels, who started internal conflict with a failed coup, have been promised crucial government portfolios in a French-brokered, UN-backed peace deal. This amounts to little more than ‘we give you what you want and you give us peace!’ However, five of Ivory Coast’s six main political parties, traditional chiefs and the army have all rejected the accord and want it re- negotiated. The rebels of course are very satisfied and refuse to talk, instead threatening to resume their war if the deal is not fully implemented by 14 February. Some Christian leaders have already been threatened with ‘slaughter’. The rebels have blamed their lack of success so far on the prayers of Christians. Let’s have the same confidence in the power released through our prayers that they have! Let’s pray!

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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