Day 29
Senegal
Senegal has begun choosing the candidates for next year’s presidential elections, with more than 70 people declaring their intention to run. The shortlisting process is to select hopeful candidates when they secure a minimum level of support through a public endorsement process. The endorsement phase will last for two months. Designed to test a potential candidate’s viability, it requires them to collect signatures demonstrating support from at least 0.6 percent of the electorate, 13 members of the National Assembly, or 120 mayors and heads of regional councils. Among those who have declared their candidacy so far are six of the eight last prime ministers of Senegal, including the current one, Amadou Ba. Pray that the Senegalese will believe in the rule and reign of God to have good rulers and experience goodness in life (The Bible, Romans 6:4).
Source:
https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20231007-senegal-begins-selecting-candidates-for-2024-presidential-election
Senegal has been a good model country for democratic rule where both freedom of speech and freedom of press are not curtailed. It is a Muslim-dominated multi-party democracy, but tolerate and accept other religions. Senegal has remained relatively peaceful without much conflicts. Senegalese have enjoyed caring rule and stability in economy nationally. The country is promoting Agricultural advancements for money generations. Development in tourism is another main source of revenue for the country. The scenario has drastically changed now in the country. The security laws have been tightened by the authorities that has affected the freedom of common people. The country leaders are concerned about the Islamic militants trying to encroach the region forcibly. There is tension in the border regions and the government has increased deploying the forces there as a precautionary measure. It has been observed that Christian Believers have enjoyed freedom of worship and seldom faced persecution. Senegal is also hosting large refugees and been used as a departure point for Europe by many African illegal migrants.

Day 29
Jordan
There is no stability, security, or peace in the Middle East as a terrible war is raging between the Hamas militants and Israel. Jordan’s King Abdullah said that peace will not be possible there unless the Palestinian state emerges as an independent state alongside Israel. The monarch said the two-state solution can only lead to a just and comprehensive solution. Palestinians constitute a large percentage of Jordan’s population. Jordan shares a border with the West Bank, and the place is taut and prone to bombardments. The angry mobs in Amman staged a large rally in protest against Israel. Several thousand protesters chanted slogans in support of Hamas. They demanded the Government to close the Israeli embassy in Amman and scrap the peace treaty. Pray for peace to prevail in the region, and the Christian Believers will have hope in Christ for a new beginning and a better future (The Bible, Job 8:7).
Source:
Although the country is ranking low, hostility toward Christian Believers has marginally increased. Millions of Jordanians are facing numerous problems in life such as the prices for food, fuel like petrol are constantly increasing. People who are working without any salary revisions find it very hard to survive with the meager money earned. They are under persisting problems financially and the poverty rate is steadily increasing. There is scarcity of water, food supplies and most needed resources. As the war is raging in the region, the challenge of sheltering and feeding the high inflex of refugees from all sides is mounting. Millions of refugees from different conflict zones are trying to find refuge in Jordan. As life struggle goes on, the Christians few in number are under constant threat of persecution. They are trying all their best to keep themselves away from the hostile Muslim groups.

Day 29
Maldives
This month, the new president, Mohamed Muizzu, will be inaugurated following his election win a few months ago. Maldives is in the unenviable position of being caught between India and China. Both these nations vie for attention and influence in the Maldives. The previous president was pro-India. The new president is pro-China. Pray for wisdom for the new president. Pray that God guides him as he leads the Maldives. The country tightly controls all aspects of religious life to protect its Muslim identity. Pray that greater freedoms will come for the tiny Christian community. Pray that the Light of Jesus Christ shines in the darkness (The Bible, John 8:12).
Source: Maldives election: Pro-China candidate Muizzu wins the presidency (BBC)
The Maldives is Asia’s smallest country by area and population known for its lucrative tourism industry in its fantastically beautiful coral reefs and islands. In an extremely closed country where the only permitted religion is Islam and any Christian influence is repressed, only a handful of secret Believers are known to exist. Only the book of Luke and Acts have been translated into the local language and it is difficult to get these Bible portions into the country. Some success has been experienced in reaching Maldivians who live abroad in the hope they share the Gospel with family and friends when they visit or return to live. Surprising results in general elections a few years ago saw the opposition leader assume leadership but the subsequent governments have failed to see any effective reform take shape.

Day 29
Nigeria
Many hundreds of people, most of them children, died in Nigeria due to diphtheria in the past year. Diphtheria is highly contagious and affects the nose and throat. It can also cause ulcers on the skin. Though it is preventable through vaccines, many of the children have died in Nigeria because they were not vaccinated. Coughs spread and sneeze or through close contact with someone infected, and in severe cases, can be fatal. The World Health Organization said that the fatality and infection rate may be higher due to low testing and the failure of some patients to report their symptoms. Pray that the children will get vaccinated and immunized to control the ongoing outbreak. Pray that the Government will prevent the deadly disease from spreading and end the needless losses and agonies of Nigerians (The Bible Psalm 6:2).
Source:
Christian persecution is steadily increasing in Nigeria as it is positioned now in the highest ever ranking. Nigeria is the African country that has the highest number of populations. There are as many as 544 groups of people of diversified backgrounds. Nigeria has rich diversified geographical landscape. There are Mangroves, tropical forests, wetlands and grasslands. Religious and ethnicity differences are causing divisions among Muslims and Christians. This is causing threatening situations all across the country. Coexisting of Muslims and Christians has been under constant tension due to tribal rivalries. Hostilities and terror by Boko Haram have left devastating destructions in the country. Many thousands of people have been massacred and killed brutally. These horrific atrocities have inflicted terrible pains and hurts in the lives of people. Many millions of people have been displaced and rendered them as refugees.
