Nuba Christians Threatened by New Offensive

​Christians in the Nuba Mountains, an island of Christianity in a sea of Islam, are facing a renewed offensive by Sudan government forces. On 6 January, a large force of Sudanese government fighters moved out of Talodi and began shelling the town of Kega, an opposition stronghold of the SPLA–North.

​Under Siege
The Nuba Mountains experienced a cease fire after the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which led to South Sudan's secession, 9 July 2011. As the Christians in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile found themselves on the wrong side of the newly drawn border, conflict broke out again as the Sudanese government sought to enforce their control over these rebel-controlled areas.
 
Under Fire
The dictator of Sudan, Omar-al-Bashir, has vowed to end all resistance to Islamic rule in Sudan before April this year. In the last week, hundreds of artillery shells, mortars and rockets have hit the SPLA-North controlled areas of Talodi, Keya, Kega, and Kauda, which is the capital of rebel-controlled Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan.
 
Refugees Flee Artillery Barrages
Thousands of Nuba civilians are within range of the governments heavy weapons and are being caught in the crossfire and even targeted. More than 250,000 Nuba have fled to neighbouring South Sudan and Ethiopia as fighting has intensified. There has been reports of Antinov bombers, MiG fighter bomber jets and of drones circling the Nuba Mountains.
 
Aerial Bombardment
On the morning of 9 January, after days of sustained bombardment, the government forces launched an assault on Angartu, 20km East of Kauda. Aerial bombardment of civilian centres throughout the Nuba Mountains are being reported. Civilians are evacuating the areas around Mendi, Angartu and Kara, Jumous, as the SPLA-North digs in to resist the advance of the Sudanese government forces.
 
Resistance
The SPLA-N reports that they have captured artillery and vehicles from the assault forces. Columns of military vehicles have been seen pouring out of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, and other assaults have been launched on Daloka and Um Serdiba. The SPLA-N claims to have repelled this attack.
 
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your Faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7
 
Dr. Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship

P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Fax: 021-685-5884
Email: mission@frontline.org.za

See also:
War Against Christians Intensifies
Strafed and Bombed in the Nuba Mountains
Faith Under Fire in Sudan – E-Book now Available
Mission to Sudan
Sudan Government Destroys Churches and Attacks Bible College in Khartoum
Pray for Christians Under Fire in Sudan