War Intensifies in Southern Sudan

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have seized the initiative by launching a series of strategic assaults in Southern Sudan. As a result of these bold new thrusts, serious casualties and defeats have been inflicted on the government of Sudan's Islamic forces. Several tanks, artillery pieces and rocket launchers have been captured and many towns liberated from the Islam occupying forces. Most of the Sudanese border has been seized from the GOS forces and the Khartoum GOS supporters. The “Lord's Resistance Army” in Uganda has suffered a crippling blow by the SPLA with hundreds captured and the rest scattered. The supply lines to the SPLA from Uganda have thus been secured. Now the SPLA is renewing their assault on Juba (the Capitol of the South) and are predicting its fall within the next months. The Muslim government of Sudan is threatening war with Uganda and Eritrea whom they accuse of supporting the SPLA. Thousands of GOS troops have been flown into Juba to reinforce the besieged garrison there. And the bombing of civilian towns in Southern Sudan has intensified.

Good rains throughout the South have resulted in the best harvest in years. Along with renewed relief efforts, this means that few are starving in Southern Sudan at this time. Accordingly, the SPLA have been able to seize the strategic initiative and regain much of the ground lost to the GOS forces over recent years. Over 90% of South Sudan are now firmly in the hands of the Christian forces. The Government of Sudan's Muslim army is confined to a few besieged garrison towns such a Juba, Kapoeta, Yei and Torit. These are in serious danger of being overrun by the latest SPLA offensive.

From my contacts with the SPLA, it would seem that their morale is extremely high. They can be heard marching or running whilst singing Christian hymns at 5:30 every morning. Ongoing training is of a fairly high standard. Discipline is evident and their determination to win is exceptional. Some are asserting that the tide of war has at last turned in favor of the Christian forces.

Meanwhile, the UN has banned the New Sudan Council of Churches' relief flights for attempting to smuggle in communion wafers for Eucharist/Lord's Supper celebrations for churches in Sudan! ACROSS (a Christian relief agency) has also been slapped with a suspension of their flights for attempting to take Bibles into Sudan. Frontline Fellowship defied the UN ban on Bibles by successfully delivering over a thousand Bibles, hymn books, prayer books and Gospels to remote congregations in Southern Sudan.