March 26, 2012
Updated: April 2, 2012
“Praise the Lord that all of our Alliance international workers are safe,” wrote the field director couple for the Alliance in Mali, West Africa, today (March 26).
This news followed sobering reports the couple shared over the weekend, detailing the deteriorating situation in Mali’s capital city, Bamako, following the coup that Mali’s army staged last week.
Believing the Malian government’s response to be “inadequate” in providing arms and supplies toward their ongoing fight with Tuareg rebels in Mali’s northern desert, the army mutinied last week, taking over Mali’s presidential palace and radio and TV stations.
“There are now reports of a possible counter coup,” a worker in Mali reported Saturday (March 24). “So we are not going out of our compound. Things are quiet but tense; the military keeps assuring everyone that the looters will be punished, but our feeling is there is no control or order at this point—please pray!”
Alliance Church Destroyed
A C&MA church was victimized by the violence late Friday night, when a mob of drugged youth armed with machetes and pick axes ransacked and looted the church.
Thankfully, the pastor, and others of his flock—who had gathered at the church Friday night to pray—fled to safety.
The pastor has since reported that the military caught two members of the gang who destroyed the church and has promised to continue pursuing their investigation. However, none of the stolen property has yet been recovered.
Promised that the military would be patrolling their neighborhood, the congregation met on their property, under a tarp, to worship on Sunday. “While the congregation is obviously discouraged,” the Mali field leadership couple said, “they are trusting God is in control and will bring something good out of this for His glory.”
MK Update
“Also, our Mali MKs (missionary kids) were to fly back Sunday from Dakar Academy for their spring vacation,” another Alliance worker in Mali said. “Unless the airport opens, we will have some disappointed children and parents.”
Reports are that the junta leaders have no support from outside the country and no major political party within the country to back them.
Pray for peace in Mali during these uncertain days—and that God will bring something good out of this crisis for His glory.
What You Can Do
Make a Donation to the Great Commission Fund; partner with Alliance workers who are often in places where they have opportunity to share the peace of Christ with those living in crisis.
Read a BBC article, “Thousands Flee Mali after Military Coup,” and view a video about the crisis. Note: Clicking on this link will take you off of the C&MA Web site.