Religious Liberty Prayer
Bulletin | RLPB 344 | Wed 17 Feb
2016
SUDAN: THE NUBA BRACE FOR MORE JIHAD
By Elizabeth Kendal
By Elizabeth Kendal
For Christians in the southern
hemisphere, summer is fading and will soon be replaced with the glorious
colours of autumn/fall. For Christians in the northern hemisphere, winter is
coming to a close and spring is in sight, heralded by early blossoms. For Christians
in the tropics, the wet season is over, the roads are opening and people are on
the move once again. What this means for Christians in northern hemisphere and
tropical conflict zones, however, is that the fighting season is upon them: the
Spring Offensives are about to begin.
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| click on map to enlarge |
Long economically and politically
marginalised, discriminated against and violently persecuted, the black African
peoples of Sudan's Darfur (in the west) and South Kordofan and Blue Nile (in
the south) oppose the overtly racist, Arabist supremacist and Islamist
totalitarian rule of the Government of Sudan (GoS) in Khartoum. However, the
GoS does not abide opposition, resistance or rebellion, especially when Darfur
has gold, Blue Nile has gold and water and South Kordofan has oil. The GoS
wants these regions subdued -- preferably ethnically cleansed and repopulated
with Arab Muslims who will support the regime in Khartoum. Located in the
centre of South Kordofan, the Nuba Mountains are home to some 50 African
tribes, collectively known as the Nuba. Predominantly Christian, the Nuba have
already survived an attempted genocidal jihad in 1992-93, when 100,000 Nuba
perished from GoS attacks alone. In June 2011, ahead of the secession of South
Sudan, the GoS re-launched its genocidal jihad against the Nuba, and by
September 2011 had spread its war into Blue Nile. [Darfur (west) is a separate
theatre of conflict. For more background on the GoS jihad in the south, see
RLPB 194 (22 Jan 2013)].
Fighting is virtually impossible
during the wet season in Sudan which lasts from May to October. During the dry
season, GoS strategy involves aerial bombardment followed by ground offensives
aimed at devastating and decimating non-compliant peoples ahead of the next wet
season when roads will again be impassable and delivery of aid virtually
impossible.
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| Nuba Christians photo: Samaritan's Purse |
In late November 2015 DefenceMinister Awad Ibnauf told the federal parliament that the areas controlled by
the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) 'will be liberated
through a massive military operation'.
Days later, sources in Blue Nile and South Kordofan told Radio Tamazuj (Sudan) that Sudan Armed
Forces (SAF) troops and equipment were arriving in Malkan, Geissan and
outskirts of Kurmuk areas in Blue Nile state, and in Kadugli, the capital of
South Kordofan State. On 9 February 2016 an eye-witness in West Kordofan told Radio Tamazuj that SAF troops had passed
through El-Fula on their way to South Kordofan. The source reported seeing some
500 pick-up trucks belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the
GoS-sponsored Arab militia (janaweed).
According to the source, the convoy appeared to be ethnically mixed, which
could indicate the GoS is now employing foreign jihadists.
Similarly, eye witnesses have told Nuba Reports that the GoS is amassing
troops along the borders of SPLA-N-controlled areas. 'Mass government troop
movements are repositioning themselves south of South Kordofan's capital,
Kadugli, to areas near the Sudan and South Sudan border. Other government
forces are moving from Rashad County to Abu Jubaiha in South Kordofan in what
may be a two-pronged attack on the rebel-controlled capital town, Kauda.' Eye
witnesses in Blue Nile have also reported a mass build-up of troops 'moving at
night through the state's capital, Damazin, south to the Kurmuk County region'.
The spokesperson for the SPLA-N, Arnu Ngutulu, confirmed that the SPLA-N is
preparing and re-positioning accordingly. Sources maintain this is the largest
build-up of SAF troops they have seen. While an estimated 4000 troops are
believed to have arrived in the south, the ultimate number of troops could be
much larger as the SAF has been recruiting within the area as well. The
situation across the entire 'New South' is extremely serious and some 230,000
predominantly Christian Nuba are at imminent risk of military attack.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT
* 'Jesus Christ, who has gone into
heaven and is at God's right hand, with angels, authorities and powers in
submission to him' (1 Peter 3:22 ESV), the Lord of Hosts, will command his
forces to fight in defence of his precious people. May the SPLA-N prevail; may
the people be spared; may the plans of the wicked come to nothing. Pray Psalm 33:8-22.
* the Lord will protect the Nuba,
along with their crops and livestock, maintaining access to food and medical
aid, and providing his children with everything they need.
* God will bless all those who risk
their lives to bring aid and to support the imperilled believers of the Nuba
Mountains. May aid groups be blessed with everything they need to fund and
deliver aid to the Nuba; may local pastors have divine wisdom and insight, as
well as a shield of protection, so they can care for the flock and bolster
their faith.
* the Sovereign King of Kings will
lift up his hand against the evil regime in Khartoum which wreaks terror across
the land and kills with impunity. Pray Psalm 10:12-18.
NOTE: In February 2012 the
GoS drove some 200,000 starving Nuba out of the mountains and was preparing to
massacre them in the Kauda valley, until the battle was turned back in answer
to prayer [see RLPB 148 (28 Feb 2012)]. Just twelve months ago, in January
2015, SAF and RSF forces surged into Nuba territory and advanced to within 20km
of the rebel capital, Kauda, [RLPB 292 (16 Jan 2015)] before the battle was
turned back at the gate in answer to prayer [RLPB 294 (28 Jan 2015)].
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| Exodus 17:8-16 |
As long
as the Arab supremacist, Islamist regime of President Omar el-Bashir is in
power in Khartoum, the Nuba will be imperilled existentially. The world has
abandoned them but if the Church keeps its hands up in prayer, the Lord will
most surely enable them to prevail. May the Nuba declare: 'The Lord is my
Banner.' (Exodus 17:8-16)
SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS
UNABLE TO RUN WHOLE ARTICLE
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THE NUBA IN SUDAN BRACE
FOR MORE JIHAD
Christians in the Nuba
Mountains of South Kordofan, Sudan, are bracing for yet another round of
genocidal jihad. Eye-witnesses report that the overtly racist and
Islamist totalitarian Government
of Sudan (GoS) has deployed some 4000 troops south, both Sudan Armed Forces
(SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF appears to be ethnically diverse,
raising suspicions that the GoS is employing foreign jihadists. Whilst the
build-up commenced in December, columns of many hundreds of military vehicles
have reportedly been seen entering South Kordofan in recent days. They seem to
be preparing for a two-pronged attack on the 'rebel' capital, Kauda. The GoS does
this every year -- and every year we pray and God answers prayer. Please pray
for the Nuba and for Sudan, asking God to intervene.
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(Deror Books, Dec 2012).
