Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 099 | Wed 16 Mar 2011

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SUDAN: SERIOUS CONFLICT IN SOUTH; ABYEI ATTACKED

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By Elizabeth Kendal

Insecurity in predominantly Christian Southern Sudan has intensified since
the 9 January 2011 referendum on Southern self-determination. The Sudan
People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has been fighting various southern armed
opposition groups, in particular the forces of General George Athor and
those of Gabriel Tanginya (aka ‘Tang’). These conflicts arise from
political and tribal grievances. A fellow Dinka and close aide to the late
SPLM/A leader John Garang, Athor has been a strong supporter of Garang’s
‘New Sudan’ vision for a united, secular, democratic Sudan. He opposes the
current SPLM leadership but denies he has links to Khartoum. ‘Tang’ on the
other hand has been allied to the National Islamic Front (NIF) in Khartoum
(Northern Sudan) since 1984. Khartoum backs Tang’s Nuer forces in their
fight against ‘Dinka domination’. When fellow Nuer, pro-secessionist Reich
Machar, split from the SPLA in 1991 over ideological and tribal
differences, he aligned with Tang. (After their coup failed in 1991
Machar’s Nuer forces massacred some 500 Dinka-Bor civilians, razing their
villages and lands so that some 25,000 subsequently died in a NIF-
engineered famine. Reich Machar is currently the Vice President of South
Sudan.)

On 9 February fighting erupted in Fangak, Jonglei State, between the SPLA
and the forces of General George Athor. Two days of fighting left at least
200 dead. On 22 February fighting broke out in Malakal, Upper Nile State,
between the SPLA and Tang’s forces, leaving some 50 dead. Children taken
hostage from a local orphanage were subsequently released. So even within
South Sudan, political and tribal divisions are deep and toxic, not least
because Khartoum has been fostering the widening of these divisions for
decades as part of its divide and rule strategy. However, if there is to
be any hope for a brighter future, the Southerners must reject corruption
and megalomania and strive for reconciliation in the South. Ultimately it
is the masses that suffer. As goes the African proverb: ‘When elephants
fight, it is the grass that gets hurt.’

The most serious outbreak of all occurred at flashpoint Abyei. Fertile and
oil-rich, the Abyei region straddles the North-South border. The people of
Abyei were to get their own referendum to decide whether Abyei would be
part of the North or the South. Traditionally, Abyei is ‘Southern’ and
predominantly Dinka. But the Islamic regime in Khartoum wants the
Misseriya Arab nomads — allies of Khartoum who traditionally pass through
the region each year — to be given voting rights. Ultimately disagreement
forced the referendum’s cancellation. Khartoum wants Abyei divided and the
US urging the South to ‘compromise’ for the sake of peace has only
emboldened Khartoum in its land-grab.

On 27 February the police station in Todach, Abyei region, was attacked at
6. 30am by a 100-strong force comprised of Misseriya Arab militiamen and
militants of the Khartoum-backed Popular Defence Force (PDF). Seven police
were killed and six wounded. The attacks continued the following day, but
included uniformed members of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) using advanced
heavy weaponry. On 28 February an estimated 100 police and civilians
(mostly youths) were killed. On 2 March Maker Abior, Abyei region, was
attacked by a force of some 1000 Misseriya, PDF and SAF elements,
resulting in 33 casualties. Two helicopters deployed from Khartoum
evacuated wounded Arab-Muslim soldiers. The Khartoum-led Joint Integrated
Units (JIU) did not intervene nor did they warn the Dinka of the looming
threat. This violence has triggered a mass exodus of Dinka from Abyei with
as many as 45,000 — mostly women and children — fleeing south.

According to Sudan analyst Eric Reeves (13 March), there has subsequently
been a dramatic military build-up in the area, with the SAF building roads
and forward military posts inside Abyei region. They have brought in tanks
and advanced weaponry and have occupied and fortified several recently
torched villages. The SPLA is also reinforcing its positions. In some
places the two forces are only 20km apart. There is concern that Khartoum
is preparing to divide Abyei by force. Meanwhile the Government of South
Sudan (GoSS) has been holding talks aimed at securing alternative routes
for its oil — routes that would deprive Khartoum of revenue. Surely
Khartoum would regard this as a massive provocation. Tensions are soaring.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT —

* God will have mercy on the impoverished, long-suffering, war-ravaged
masses of South Sudan, especially those who faithfully love, worship,
walk with and trust in the Lord. Please LORD, interpose yourself,
protecting and delivering your loved ones in answer to prayer.

‘The Lord goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his
zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his
foes.’ (Isaiah 42:13 ESV)

* the Holy Spirit will encourage and embolden Christian leaders, pastors
and evangelists to preach and demonstrate radical faith despite the
circumstances. ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.’ (Psalm 56:3
ESV) May this radical faith witness effectively to multitudes.

* God will grasp Sudan’s leaders by their right hands and, for the sake
of the Church, call them by name to do God’s bidding, that all the
peoples might know that God is the LORD (Isaiah 45:1-7).

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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CONFLICT THREATENS PEACE IN SOUTH SUDAN

Conflict has increased within South Sudan since the 9 January 2011
Referendum on Southern Self-Determination. During February the Sudan
People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) clashed with forces of the southern
opposition figure Gen. Akhor, leaving 200 dead. Some 50 were killed when
the SPLA clashed also with the forces of Gabriel Tanginya who is backed by
Northern Islamic Khartoum. In the North-South border region of Abyei, 100
Misseriya Arab militiamen and other Khartoum-backed forces massacred
police and civilians. On 2 March the same forces, 1000-strong, attacked
another Abyei village causing 33 casualties. This violence has triggered a
massive displacement of 45,000 Southern Sudanese — mostly women and
children — fleeing south. Both the North and the South are preparing for
conflict. Please pray for the long-suffering, war-ravaged, predominantly
Christian masses of South Sudan.

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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.
Previous bulletins may be viewed at <http://www.ea.org.au/ea–
family/Religious-Liberty/Prayer-Postings.aspx>.

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