AFWIS joins OW in prayer for the Republic of Sudan, Africa

Nov 08: Sudan

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Sudan

Republic of Sudan

Africa

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 2,503,890 sq km
Africa’s largest country. Desert in the north, merging into grasslands and mountains in the centre and tropical bush in the south. Straddling the Nile Rivers. Nuba Mountains in the centre.
Population: 43,192,438    Annual Growth: 2.22%
Capital: Khartoum
Urbanites: 45.2%
HDI Rank: 150 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 246 (56% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Arabic and English    Languages: 134 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Muslim

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	11,277,546	26.11	4.8
Evangelicals	6,336,018	14.7	6.4
Muslim	26,511,518	61.38

Answer to Prayer

The prolonged conflict and war caused Christians to scatter throughout the country and beyond. This resulted in churches being planted in places and among peoples who were previously unreached. Now, many of those won to Christ while displaced are returning to their home areas with the goal of starting new fellowships.
     For an additional 3 Answers to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

Challenge for Prayer

Darfur is a 21st Century byword for tragedy. Low-level conflict began in the 1970s, but in 2003 fighting escalated between rebel groups and the government-sponsored Janjawid militia. The people of Darfur are Black African Muslims, the Janjawid are Arabized Sudanese. Many consider the atrocities of Darfur to be racially motivated genocide. Massacres, rapes, mutilations and destruction of villages, food and water supplies are signatures of this systematic, government-sponsored campaign. The conflict – and refugees – spilled over into Chad as well, even leading to Chad’s declaration of war against Sudan (ended in 2007). Pray for:
a) A complete end to the violence and upheaval in Darfur that has cost over 300,000 lives and displaced over 2.5 million people. Even a peace agreement in 2006 did not stop further predation by militias.
b) The execution of justice upon all those guilty of atrocities, from militias and rebels to top government and military figures. Pray for courage and determination from international bodies to bring the perpetrators to justice, and for foreign nations to act with moral uprightness rather than out of greed for cheap oil.
c) The restoration of peace and a normal functioning of life. Most NGOs trying to aid those caught in the conflict were forced out of the region. Pray that they might be able to return to help with aid and development. Pray that international assistance does not dry up simply because the violence ends.
     For an additional 12 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Sudan.