Reports are coming out saying that Sudan has bombed Bentiu, a city in South Sudan. These bombs hit markets and had civilian casualties. Click here to read the full article from CNN.com.

Please continue to pray for both Sudans.

One of the areas of contention between Sudan and South Sudan, Heglig, has been taken back by South Sudan. This area was marked as part of South Sudan in 1956 boarder agreements. Since it is a major oil producer no one has wanted to let it go. Since the recent take over by the SPLA Sudan has responded by pulling out of peace talks with South Sudan. South Sudan has stopped oil production, which does not make Sudan happy and Sudan responded by declaring a mobilization of their army. Here are many links below to get the full story. Please keep both Sudans in your prayers during this intense time where war is seemingly more and more imminent. We do serve a God of miracles and I pray this could somehow be avoided and millions of civilian lives could be spared.
Sudan breaks off talks with South Sudan.
South Sudan shuts down oil production in the disputed border area of Heglig
Sudan declares general mobilisation after Heglig clash.

This is big. We have many friends who have been directly impacted from the bombings of Sudan into Southern Sudan. Many attacks have been seen by outside media and have been reported more so than in the past. Khartoum is denying that a jet fighter plan of theirs had been shot down. South Sudan sources are reporting that “unmanned war plane” to photograph strategic SPLA positions. For the full article reporting this on Sudan Tribune, click here

As always we ask for your continued prayers for both Sudans as the threat of war seems always present.

Our SIM Sudan director just posted a need for a Treasurer as well as someone who would be interested in being a manager for a Basic Education Learning Center (BELC) in South Sudan.

How can you use your accounting skill to share the love of Christ all over East Africa?
SIM is looking for a Nairobi-based Treasurer to serve as a key leader in a services group whose task is providing treasury, HR, and government services to a wide spectrum of missionaries in East Africa.

The partnering church in South Sudan continues to request more BELCs, there is a need for someone to be a project manager to head this up. If you are interested in adult accelerated learning programs please let us know!

An exciting bit of good news we wanted to pass along, Sudan and South Sudan have been in talks in Addis Ababa and have come to an agreement on some issues! This includes the beginning steps, forming committees, to set the official boundaries of the two nations.
Sudan Tribune also reported that, “The two states have agreed to continue negotiations as partners rather than aggressors,” said Thabo Mbeki, who chairs the African Union meditation mechanism.” The agreement will be signed in the coming weeks in Juba as Sudan’s Bashir will be visiting soon.
What a turn around from what we have been hearing and hopefully a sign of steps in the right direction for both nations.

Sudan Tribune reported that on Wednesday US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, called out President Bashir for “undermine the implementation” of the peace agreement. She also stated:

“The people of South Sudan voted for independence and ever since, despite Bashir going to [South Sudan president] Salva Kiir’s inauguration, there has been a steady effort to undermine this new state,”.

“I think that what we’ve got with Bashir is a very determined effort to try to undo the results of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” Clinton added.

Again we call out for prayers for Sudan and South Sudan as they are dealing with many details left unsettled. Please also pray for unity within tribes, peoples, political groups in South Sudan and for them to seek the Lord and what He would have for their country.

*Photo and quotes from Sudan Tribune, http://alturl.com/bonfo

Looks like things are in the works for a new pipeline for South Sudan’s oil. Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan will share the cost for a “massive a transportation corridor project”. To read more about the details go to Sudan Tribune…

http://www.sudantribune.com/Ethiopia-Kenya-and-South-Sudan-to,41662

Apologies as I can’t seem to create a proper link. Please copy and paste website address and head on over.

We will try to summarize the many happenings from the situation in Sudan/South Sudan. There has been a lot of flip flop in talk from the North about if they will continue to refine and export the South’s oil. The ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, requested an issue of a warrant to arrest Sudan’s defense minister, Abdul Rahim Mohamed Hussein, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. There have been pictures coming out of the Blue Nile area that show the destruction that the North has caused to civilians. To quote an article on the Sudan Tribune’s website, “John Bradshaw, the executive director of the Enough Project, an advocacy group, said that the imagery is “consistent with reports from on the ground that the SAF has intentionally destroyed civilian communities in clear violation of the laws of war.” It looks like things are rapidly leaning towards another war of some sort. Please keep praying.

If you would like a recap of the happenings in the last month or so, you can find a good one here.