SOUTH AFRICA, Sarah-Leah Pimentel
For many of us, these places are very far away and it is difficult to feel empathy for people we know nothing about. These are also places that the media often ignores. I live in South Africa but even here, the main news channels rarely report on the raging conflicts in both of these countries. I imagine that in Latin America, or Europe, or the United States, people would know even less about what is happening in these countries.
That is why the Holy Father’s initiative is so important. He is asking us to unite in solidarity with people whose reality is completely different to our own. He is reminding us that their lives also matter. He is calling on us to sacrifice our comforts of food and relaxation in order to ease the suffering of millions of people who live thousands of kilometres way from me. People who are hungry for food, people who are hungry for truth, people who are hungry for peace.
Perhaps it is a little easier to feel with and pray with the millions of citizens in these two countries if we knew something about them.
War in South Sudan
In South Sudan, a struggle for power between President Salva Kiir and the former vice-president, Reik Machar has split loyalties in the army and within government. The result has been armed battles throughout the country and the creation of militia groups that have forced four million people to flee their homes. They are afraid that they will be assaulted, killed, raped or forced to fight for one the many sides in this conflict. Most of these people live in refugee camps in Uganda and other neighbouring countries.
Election Postponement in DRC
In the DRC, elections should have been held in in 2015. A lack of consensus over changes to electoral legislation mean that President Joseph Kabila remains in power and the date for elections is continually postponed. This has led to frustration and conflict from anti-government groups that also have other interests in perpetuating the uncertainty. Over 3,300 people have died in this conflict already and many are living as refugees in Angola, Burundi and Tanzania. Angola has already received 30,000 refugees.
These men, women and children are not just numbers. They are people with the same rights that those of us fortunate to read this article are able to enjoy. These are conflicts created by ineffectual leaders who do not understand that leadership is a responsibility and a service.
Why should we pray?
We often tire of praying for people caught up in conflicts that seem to have no end. But we must believe in the power of prayer. Not only it is what we are taught as Christians, but because we have seen the effects of prayer in transforming entire societies.
Most recently, South Africa and Zimbabwe saw a change of leadership. Mugabe and Zuma had lost touch with the needs and realities of those they promised to govern. In Zimbabwe, Mugabe destroyed the economy and agriculture of a country that used to be the pride of Southern Africa. In South Africa government corruption eroded the moral fabric of its society and made the country less favourable for investors who bring much needed economic opportunities.
Thousands of people have been praying for a new beginning for both of these countries. And suddenly the floodgates opened. The ruling parties called for transformation from within and applied pressure — without war or violence — to force these ineffectual leaders to leave office. The new presidents of both these countries have a mammoth task to restore public confidence in government and need a lot more prayer, but this open door for change would not have been possible without the power prayer.
Why should we pray and fast for South Sudan and DRC on 23 February? Because we are a people of faith. Because we are a people of hope. Because we are a covenant people. The people of these countries are our brothers and sisters in the covenant. We are praying for the Church on the new shore.
The Pope convokes a special day of prayer and fasting for peace
Thank you Sarah-Leah for informing us on the details about the conflicts in South Sudan and the DRC. We are praying for them, not only on the 23rd of this month. Also thank you for the information about South Africa and Zimbabwe, I am glad to hear the new leadership is favorable there. We had a much needed change in leadership in our country, the USA, as well which came about through much prayer from our Catholic Church and many Evangelical Churches as well.