Please pray for Claire and Stephanie, held hostage in Sudan

These two humanitarian workers are being held in Sudan with the demand that those involved in the Zoe's Ark aid organization be re-tried, which seems unlikely. Please pray for their soon release, and safety while in the hands of their captors.

The original article from the BBC can be found here.

Threat to kill two Sudan hostages

Hundreds of thousands of people need aid in Darfur

The kidnappers of two aid workers in Darfur say they will kill them, unless six French aid employees convicted of abducting children in Chad are retried.

Chad's pardons two years ago for the French aid staff, three months after they were jailed, sparked public anger.

The Aide Medicale Internationale staff, a French and a Canadian woman, were seized in south Darfur a week ago.

The kidnappers have also threatened to target French interests if their demands are not met.

Armed men kidnapped the pair from their compound in South Darfur's capital, Nyala, about 100km (65 miles) from the border with Chad on 4 April.

'Treated well'

The pair have been named as Canadian Stephanie Joidon and her French colleague, Claire Dubois.

One of the kidnappers, who named his group as the Falcons for the Liberation of Africa, told Reuters news agency by telephone: "We demand France open the case of the Zoe's Ark criminals and judge them through a fair court.

"If the French government is not serious in negotiations with us and does not respond to our request, we will kill the two aid workers."

In 2007, six employees of French humanitarian group Zoe's Ark were convicted of trying to fly more than 100 children out of Chad to Europe without authorisation.

The group, who denied the charges, were sentenced to eight years of hard labour by a Chadian court, but were pardoned in March 2008 by Chad's president.

The kidnappers allowed one of their captives to speak to media by satellite telephone on Sunday.

Ms Joidon told AFP news agency: "We are being treated well. We do not know where we are. We wish [our families] much courage. We hope that all ends well."

It was the second kidnapping of aid workers since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant last month for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Four workers with Medecins Sans Frontieres were kidnapped at gunpoint from their Darfur home on 11 March and later released.

Sudan expelled 13 aid agencies immediately after the indictment of Mr Bashir.

When will the "Big Attack" come?

In the eyes of many, the question is not "if", but "when"

For those living beside the Sudanese border, especially in Abéché, the big question is "When will the rebels attack?" Chadians and foreigners living there expect something to happen in January or February. President Déby is reported to be nervous about his position. Tchadactuel.com reports that one of his spies heard those at a celebration of Timan, who is one of the important military officials, saying "Mabrouk, Mabrouk" (Congratulations) to him. The spy assumed that they had gathered to plan a rebellion against the President, and those at the party were congratulating their new leader.

As a result, President Déby's Sudanese mercenaries began going around from house to house, confiscating weapons from all those who could potentially be in a rebellion against him.

At the same time, tchadactuel.com spoke of inter-rebel fighting in Bahai last week. If this report is true, it does not bode well for the united front the rebellion would need to succeed if they are to remove the authority from President Déby.

Friends in N'Djaména report that the president cannot trust his northern brothers, so he is turning to Christians for help. Last month he held a big Christmas party and invited many of his Christian friends to participate, all expenses paid. Since 2006, everyone in Chad has been anticipating the "big attack" that will overthrow President Déby and usher in a new government. So for three years, life in Chad has been characterised by fear, speculation and concern for the future.

With the intelligence capabilities at their disposal, many western governments lean to the pessimist's side, and are asking their nationals to think very seriously about living and working in Chad. Many countries are warning those holding their passports that if they are in Chad, their security becomes their own responsibility. Pessimists expect a new government to be more restrictive, more Islamic, more like Sudan and restrictive of religious freedom for non-Muslims.

A small number of optimists believe that a new government will bring peace and positive advancement to Chad at last. So some are praying for the rebellion to come quickly, others are praying that it would never come. Of course, the ideal situation would be that the government transition would come in a peaceful manner.

We pray that the Father who holds all days in His hands would be with the poor and the oppressed, the rich and the authorities, on that day, if it is to come. We can all thank God for each day that passes without a rebel attack entering Chad. Silence on this blog is a sign of God's mercy at work in this struggling nation!

And our prayers are especially with our friends who have been willingly living under this threat with a desire to make an Eternal difference in this country. We hear that there is an openness like never before to the Hope that only Christ can bring. God is blessing Chad in her greatest time of uncertainty.

Chadian rebels launch town attack

Chadian rebels launch town attack

Chadian rebels have threatened to advance on the country's capital

Anti-government rebels in Chad have launched an attack on the town of Goz Beida, near the border with Sudan.

The United Nations reported fighting in the town, which is home to 15,000 Darfur refugees.

A rebel leader said Goz Beida had fallen to his forces and they would take the capital N'Djamena by Sunday.

Chadian Communication Minister Mahamat Hissene told the BBC that government forces were being organised to defend the capital.

The rebels reportedly launched an offensive in the east of the country on Wednesday, and Mr Hissene said the rebels were being armed and organised by Sudan.

They claim to have twice as many vehicles and men as when they attacked N'Djamena in February.

The insurgents had sought to overthrow President Idriss Deby and they managed to reach his palace before being repelled.

*** Please pray for God:

• - to have mercy on the people of Chad
• - to protect the innocent as this latest attack unfolds
  
• - to bring lasting peace to Chad in which the country can move forward and develop in every way, as He chooses

Full Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7454749.stm