South Sudan - pray for peace for world's newest African nation

A timely from http://www.releaseinternational.org/ about the world's newest nation, which is in Africa and in which the Black Africans are harrassed by Arab Muslims. This follows this post about modern charges of "racism."  This follows this post about a book to read in this current environment that you can get here from your library or by clicking the title of the article below to get it from amazon. This follows THIS POST about some movies that have been released over the past few years that you might have missed! This all  follows this post about guidelines to chosing good movies to watch yourself!

Sudan - pray for peace for world's newest nation


Jul 08 2011



Release International is calling for prayer for a peaceful transition as South Sudan prepares to become the world’s newest nation at midnight (2100 GMT).



‘The birth of this nation will be a challenging time for Christians in both the North and South of Sudan,’ says Andy Dipper, CEO of Release International, a ministry to persecuted Christians. ‘Please join them in their prayers that the move to independence will pass peacefully and this new nation will be able to stand on its feet.’



As the mainly Arab and Muslim North prepares to implement strict Sharia law, some observers fear Christians will be forced to leave, precipitating a humanitarian crisis. Oxfam has called on the UN Security Council to ensure civilians are protected.



There are reasons for concern. The governor of North Kordofan has declared a jihad – holy war – against the Nuba people, many of whom are Christians and fought with southern rebels during Sudan’s long-running civil war.



And in South Kordofan, the Bishop of Kadugli, Andudu Adam Elnail, has warned of possible ‘genocide’ against Christians. Islamist militias there have been accused of bombing churches and Christian homes and killing at least two Christians.



According to the UN upwards of 1,400 people have been killed in South Sudan so far this year. That’s more than in the whole of 2010. The BBC estimates 170,000 have fled their homes.



From midnight on Friday local time (9pm GMT), South Sudan will officially become an independent nation – after 99 per cent of southerners voted to split from the north in January’s referendum.



The ballot was a condition of the 2005 peace deal which ended more than two decades of civil war between the mainly Arab and Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and animist south. An estimated two million people died in the conflict.



Christians in the north remain apprehensive about the future if Sudan’s President, Omar al-Bashir fulfils his pledge to introduce strict Islamic law in the north after tomorrow.



As recently as May, Compass Direct news agency reported that a Christian couple in the northern capital, Khartoum, were attacked with knives for leaving Islam.



Ongoing conflict in oil-rich border areas – such as South Kordofan and Abyei – remains a serious concern too. South Kordofan will be part of North Sudan as of tomorrow but is home to many pro-south communities, especially in the Nuba Mountains.



A referendum in Abyei for residents to decide whether to join south or north has been delayed over issues of ‘voter eligibility’, says the BBC. The UN Security Council sent UN peacekeepers to patrol the area last month, where tensions remain high.



Another threat to stability is the long-standing tribal and military divisions in the South, where there are upwards of ten rival militia groups. The challenge for the new government will be to disarm thousands of fighters who have known little but war, and return them to civilian life.



‘Nation-building will be a huge task for this under-developed country,’ says Andy Dipper of Release. ‘And stability will be essential for South Sudan to get firmly on its feet.



‘Please pray for peace in both North and South as the country divides. Pray particularly for Christians living in the North as it prepares to introduce Sharia law. Pray that their religious freedom will be respected.



‘Ask God to guide and grow the church in South Sudan and to raise up strong leaders in both church and politics to shape this new nation.’



Through its international network of missions Release supports Christians imprisoned for their faith and their families in 30 nations. It supports church workers, pastors and their families, and provides training, Bibles, Christian literature and broadcasts. Release is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections and the Evangelical Alliance.



ENDS



Notes to Editor



For a country profile on Sudan, please go to: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/sudan.php



For more information about Release International, please contact Release International on 01689 823491.



http://www.releaseinternational.org/