CIDEL: Pray for Peace

Since the Central African Republic gained independence from France in 1960, the tiny nation located between Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo has had more than its share of political unrest and violence from militant groups.

This was particularly true in the years following the 2013 takeover by Muslim rebels. But now, with a peaceful 2016 election and a constitutional referendum that is currently taking place under the supervision of an international delegation, there is hope for stability. Yesterday, January 24^th, dialogue for peace and reconciliation was organized by the Central African Republic Government, the African Union of Churches, and the United Nations. The conference is currently taking place in the city of Khartoum in Sudan. The conversation will be between a handful of government delegates and several leaders from fourteen different rebel groups who have caused unrest for the last decade. The dialogue will last ten days aiming for restitution. Our Encompass ministry partner CIDEL has organized a day of prayer at the Center of Ethics Chapel with the students from the university in light of this dialogue. Director of CIDEL, Augustin Hibaile, is entreating everyone to intercede in prayer for the leaders who represent the population and for the rebels in Sudan. Pray for God to open the minds and hearts of the rebel groups to see the value of withholding violence. Pray especially that the leaders will be able to maintain peace in the dialogue. This will be a very tense and stressful next ten days. Many in the Central African Republic are tired of war, violence, and the murder of their people. Pray for God to work mightily in this situation.