Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 176 – Tues 9 July 2002

———————————————— SUDAN: THE DESPERATE NEED FOR PEACE ————————————————

Ever since independence (1956) the efforts of the Arab Muslim Government of Sudan (GoS), to Islamise and Arabise all of Sudan, have produced conflict. A peace accord had been signed with the predominantly African and non-Muslim Southerners in 1972 that enabled the Sudanese to have eleven years of relative peace and gave the Southerners a degree of autonomy. This was all destroyed in 1983 when President Jaafar el Nemery contravened the 1972 peace accord and declared Sudan an Islamic Republic and introduced Sharia law (Islamic law) – to be enforced upon the entire population of Sudan.

Even though Sudan is engaging with America, providing intelligence for its post-11 September War on Terror, the Government of Sudan (GoS) is still talking jihad and waging terror on its own people – the predominantly Christian population of Southern Sudan. On 4 October 2001 a senior Sudanese official vowed that his government would continue to raise the banner of jihad or holy war against the southerners. First Vice-President Ali Osman Taha was seeing off a brigade of mujahidin fighters who were heading for the war front. “The jihad is our way and we will not abandon it and will keep its banner high,” he said. “We will never sell out our faith and will never betray the oath to our martyrs.” (For more details of this jihad see RLP 171 http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/rlc/postings)

Another round of peace talks is presently underway in Kenya. Analysts are reporting that the war has reached its “deadliest phase” ever, due to the increased acquisition of lethal weapons by both sides (especially the GoS which uses oil revenues to purchase arms, especially air power). Many believe the window of opportunity for peace is closing fast, especially as there appears to be little international will to assist and give leverage to the peace process. The issues of religious freedom and autonomy for the predominantly Christian Southerners remain the primary sticking points in the peace process. While the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) brokered the Addis Ababa Peace Agreement of 1972, the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) has complained that churches are being excluded from present peace initiatives.

On 5 June, John Prendergast, co-director of the Africa programme of the International Crisis Group (ICG) spoke to the US Congress on the need for a greater commitment, effort and leverage on the part of the broader international community, in close partnership with regional states if peace in Sudan is to be achieved. “In the absence of such a commitment, the best chance in years to end a generation of war will surely slip away,” he said. Some 2 million Southern Sudanese have already died, millions more have been displaced, up to 200,000 live as chattel slaves and the UN estimates that GoS is unconscionably denying humanitarian aid to some 1.7 million starving people, in what is one of the world’s longest running civil conflicts.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR

* God to intervene in the peace process – may there be a miracle for the sake of his people who are suffering so severely. “Many seek the ruler’s favour, but justice comes from the Lord.” Prov 29:26

* the conscience of the international community to be pricked by God’s Spirit so that all those who can assist with leverage for peace – will.

* continued Church growth in Sudan – that the believers would not give in to discouragement and dispair but would continue to graciously shine and point others to Jesus. Psalm 72:12-14.

* wise, courageous, spiritual Christian leadership – and that these leaders will have the opportunity to have their voices for peace heard.

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ——————————————————————- SUDAN: THE DESPERATE NEED FOR PEACE

The conflict / jihad in Sudan has reached what analysts say is its “deadliest phase” ever, due to the increased acquisition of lethal weapons by both sides (especially the Arab Islamic GoS which uses oil revenues to purchase arms, especially air power). The issues of religious freedom and autonomy for the predominantly Christian Southern Sudanese remain the primary sticking points in the peace process. Two million Southern Sudanese have already died and millions more have been wounded and displaced. The Southerners are starving and suffering severely. Many analysts believe the window of opportunity for peace is closing fast, especially as there appears to be little international will to assist and give leverage to the peace process. Please pray for God’s intervention. “…justice comes from the Lord.” Prov 29:26

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Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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