Day 22
SEPTEMBER | 2022
Myanmar
PRAYER FOR THIS COUNTRY
According to the UN, there is substantial evidence that since the military take over at the start of 2021, “crimes have been committed in Myanmar on a scale and in a manner that constitutes a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population”. This includes sexual and gender-based crimes, and crimes against children that include torture, forced conscription and detention as proxies for parents. Cry out for mercy on behalf of the people of Myanmar. Pray for the violence to stop and for authorities to be held accountable. Pray for the spirit of war and violence, power, and control, to be broken. Pray that the gentle, healing presence of God will herald a new beginning in the lives of many broken and struggling people (The Bible, Matthew 11:29).
Source: Myanmar: Crimes against humanity committed systematically, says UN report (UN News)
MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY
In 2015, the first openly contested elections were held since 1990, favoring its first non-military president since the military coup of 1962. Aung San Suu Kyi’s democracy movement took power after 50 years of military domination, and again won a landslide victory in the January 2021 elections. The victory was short-lived when a military coup led by the commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, in February 2021 overthrew the government and thrust the nation into a chaos of protests and violence which has increasingly turned into a civil war.
CHIEF OF STATE
President Myint Swe (acting)
HEAD OF GOV.
PM Min Aung Hlaing
POPULATION
56,320,000
CHRISTIANS
8.8%
EVANGLICAL CHRISTIANS
5.1%
DOMINANT RELIGION
Buddhism
PERSECUTION RANKING
18
REFUGEES
1,186,501
LIFE EXPECTANCY
66.29 yrs
LITERACY RATE
92.7%
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE
32.7%
Day 22
SEPTEMBER | 2022
Ethiopia
PRAYER FOR THIS COUNTRY
Ethiopia is one of the world’s most-censored countries. The conflict between the federal government and the rebel forces led by the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front has prompted a media crackdown. A 21-month-old civil war in the country is accelerating the deterioration of press freedom. Ethiopia now ranks with Eritrea as sub-Saharan Africa’s worst jailer of journalists. The fight to control the narrative of the war is one of the major reasons for the increasing hostility against the press. The crackdown on the press is also happening within the context of human rights violations from all sides of this war. Pray that deteriorating conditions for Ethiopia’s journalists, that the crackdown will change and, the climate for press freedom to improve. Pray for the leaders and people to find freedom in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit (The Bible, John 8:36).
Source:
https://cpj.org/2022/08/journalists-face-growing-hostility-as-ethiopias-civil-war-persists/
MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY
Ethiopia is listed in the 36th position in the World Watch report 2021 by Open Doors for Christian persecution The current president of Ethiopia is Sahle-Work Zewde and the Prime Minister is Abiy Ahmed. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party won the most seats in Ethiopia’s parliamentary election, a victory that assures him another term in office. It was the country’s first free and fair election after decades of repressive rule. However, an opposition boycott, the war in the northern region of Tigray, ethnic violence, and logistical challenges in some areas overshadowed the election.
CHIEF OF STATE
President Sahle-Work Zewde
HEAD OF GOV.
PM Abiy Ahmed
POPULATION
99,466,000
CHRISTIANS
60.1%
EVANGLICAL CHRISTIANS
17.4%
DOMINANT RELIGION
Christianity
PERSECUTION RANKING
36
REFUGEES
665,240
LIFE EXPECTANCY
57.64 yrs
LITERACY RATE
39%
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE
39%
