31st October, 2010

SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

Assist News Service

Christians in Sudan, especially the southern part of the country, are soliciting prayers in respect to the forthcoming referendum that will be held on 9th January, 2011, which will determine whether south should become independent from the north.

Open Doors UK and Ireland said in a report that its co-workers in southern Sudan explained that conflicting views between the political leaders pose a serious concern for the church, and have asked Christians around the world to lift them up in prayer.

“It is time for Christians to earnestly seek God. Amidst the obstacles, Christians have the opportunity to be peacemakers, set a different standard and bring hope. They have no other choice but to trust God for a miracle,” its report added.

Open Doors UK and Ireland noted that, on 4th October, 2010, police in Khartoum evicted the staff of an evangelical church from its events and office site, aiding a Muslim businessman’s effort to seize the property. An unnamed elder said church leaders believe the property grab came in anticipation of the proposed referendum.

According to the report, with the April 2010 presidential and parliamentary elections completed, southern Sudan is preparing to hold a referendum and members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council have promised support for the referendum - the first of its kind in the country’s history.

It said that after years of devastating warfare and more than a decade of negotiation, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed six years ago between the former southern rebel, Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

“Although designed to ensure democratic transformation in Sudan, years of delays caused by unresolved issues of race, religion and resources have worried observers. One such issue is the demarcation of the disputed north-south border, along which most of Sudan's oil wealth lies,” the report stated.

Another is the eligibility of the Arab nomad Missiriya tribe to vote, since the south does not consider them to be truly southern Sudanese adding that crucially, the SPLM and the NCP still need to agree on a referendum commission.

“Please pray for a peaceful solution to the dispute concerning the border demarcation. That the referendum commission will be formed in time to organise the January vote and that the church will play an active role in peacemaking and be strengthened to withstand the threat still posed by the influence of the Islamic government in Khartoum,” it also said.