Operation World – Africa: Hot Spots

These warrant passionate prayer:

1 The Great Lakes War. This became Africa's first major international conflict. Tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples in Rwanda and Burundi have led to civil wars and periodic genocidal massacres over the past four decades. The Rwanda genocide of 1994 triggered a chain reaction of war and waves of refugees affecting surrounding countries. This interlocked with the wars already being fought in Angola, Sudan and between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The impact on Congo has been devastating for much of the country and continues to affect millions of people. Pray for:

a) African and international peacemakers in their arduous, thankless task and for resolution of the underlying causes of war.

b) The warring factions and their leaders to end their fighting and for peace to be restored.

c) The millions of refugees to be adequately provided for and ultimately resettled. Many NGOs are involved.

d) Recovery through repentance of perpetrators, justice for the offended, forgiveness given and received and the long process of reconstruction for ruined lives, families and countries.
 

2 The Horn of Africa was the scene of terrible events in the 1990s.

a) Somalia descended into anarchy with humiliating failures for the UN and the USA in finding solutions. Pray that the Somalis may find workable solutions to the chaos they have created.

b) Ethiopia and Eritrea's unexpected, unnecessary war in 1998-2000 between two largely Christian nations led to heavy casualties. An uneasy cease-fire prevailed in 2001, but lasting peace, restoration of trust and reopening of trade are needed.

3 The West African debacle of Liberia's civil wars in the last decade has resulted in the immense destruction of lives, property and mass exploitation of children as soldiers. This conflict spilled over to Sierra Leone and Guinea with even worse atrocities and has drawn in West African and UN forces who have vainly tried to impose a measure of peace. The conflict has had deep impact on surrounding nations and an ending of the fighting and of the 'reign' of the warlords looks distant. A whole generation has been deeply scarred.



4 The Maghreb conflicts — the Algerian civil war with its unending bloody massacres of civilians, and the unresolved conflict about the future of the Western Sahara occupied by Morocco since 1974.



5 Sudan's 40-year civil war with its Islamic jihad overtones in which the Muslim north is seeking to subjugate the largely Christian south and impose shari'a law and Islam.