The north is still bombing the Nuba Mountain area, it was reported in June.
Several pastors’ wives who managed to get to Bible School were suffering from serious eye complaints, due to being forced to live and cook in caves.
President Oman al Bashir from the north has been arraigned by the International Criminal Court for genocide and crimes against humanity. He is safe within Sudan. When he went to South Africa, where he should have been arrested, they allowed him to return.
The government in South Sudan is in chaos. The president Salva Kiir seemed to have begun well, but that is no longer the case. He has allowed the country to become one of the most corrupt in the world. He has allowed his tribe, the Dinka, to be predominant. His vice-president, Riak Machar, from the second strongest tribe, the Nuer, was forced to stand down. Consequently there is a big power struggle going on. There is also endless fighting between these two tribes.
Retaliation
In many areas there is constant conflict on all levels, including cattle rustling. A major problem is lack of forgiveness leading to retaliation. This has been going on for centuries. What is needed is for all sides to agree to forgive and forget the past and work towards the future of the country. This seems a forlorn hope, but pray for a strong witness from the churches in a peace-making role.
Witchcraft still has a stranglehold on many. Alcohol abuse is on the increase. The harvests have been poor and food prices are soaring. Many people are traumatised.
One ray of hope is that the churches are full and the Bible Schools are all functioning. It is hard to see a solution except for God to move in the land and bring people to their knees.
