Pray for an End of Violence

Last Sunday a military coup was attempted in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Since then the fighting has spread to Jonglei and Unity states, North and East of Juba. Over a thousand people have died so far. There is no official number for the dead at this point. The president Salva Kiir removed the vice president (Reik Machar) and others from the government months ago when they publically spoke out against him. Machar organized the coup. Kiir is from the majority Dinka tribe and Machar is from the 2nd largest tribe in South Sudan, the Nuer tribe. Fighting has for the most part been along tribal lines.

Currently the rebels hold the state capitals of Jonglei and Unity states. Most organizations have pulled their people out of South Sudan or are trying to do so. Four U.S. service men were wounded on Dec 21st when rebels fired on 3 U.S. military aircraft trying to land to evacuate personnel. This is the same location that a U.N. helicopter was shot down the day before.

There are over 40,000 people taking refuge in two U.N. compounds from the fighting. Thousands more are running from the fighting. Civilians are being lined up and shot or indiscriminately shot where they are found.

The situation is very tense to say the least. Please pray for a quick resolution. Pray against a full scale civil war.

I spoke with David today. Everybody is doing fine. His tribe is Acholi, not Dinka or Nuer. There is no fighting in his area....yet. They have shut down the cell tower in Pajok (where David lives) so I haven't been able to contact him since Thursday. We don't know when it will be operational. He called me from his Uganda phone close to the border of Uganda and South Sudan.

Please pray for David, Grace, and all the children.

Also pray for Ryan and Marie. Ryan is an anthropologist conducting research in Pajok. Ryan and his wife are living in our God's Tender Mercy compound. Ryan's college is in the UK and their home is in New Zealand. Their plan was to stay for 1 to 1 1/2 years. They arrived the same day we did this year (October 8th). I talked with Marie today and she said everything is fine and that they are staying for the time being.

 

Thank you for your prayers.

In Christ, Jeff & Kathy Huber