SUDAN - Millions Fleeing the Country
The conflict in Sudan has displaced more than 3.4 million people inside the country, a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Those who escaped Sudan have arrived in other countries in the region including Egypt, Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
“Time is running out for farmers to plant the crops that will feed them and their neighbors. Medical supplies are scarce,” UN agencies said in a statement. “The situation is spiraling out of control.”
Humanitarian bodies have warned that shaky ceasefires and inadequate evacuation corridors mean civilians are more likely to get caught up in the violence, prompting calls for a caretaker government.
The head of the Sudanese army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo worked together to topple former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The pair also played a key role in the 2021 military coup.
-www.cnn.com, 16 August 2023
Arno's Commentary
Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a low life expectancy of only 67.5 years, and per capita GDP $3,700.
Religiously, the country is dominated by Sunni Islam. It’s an Arabic-speaking country, with a population growth rate of 2.4%, meaning one million people are being added each year.
In July 2011, the southern part broke away and created a new nation called South Sudan. The CIA Factbook lists the 12.1 million people in South Sudan as 60.5% Christian. Life expectancy is extremely low at 59.7 years, and GDP per capita stands at $1,600 (2017).
The Bible identifies the approximate territory of modern Sudan with the name Cush. Wikipedia writes: “Cush is traditionally considered the ancestor of the ‘land of Cush,’ an ancient territory believed to have been located near the Red Sea. Cush is identified in the Bible with the Kingdom of Kush or ancient Sudan. The Cushitic languages are named after Cush.”
For the first time, Cush is mentioned in Genesis 10:6: “And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.” The last time in Isaiah 11:11: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.”
Interestingly, both Sudan and South Sudan have established diplomatic relations with Israel. The following is published by Wikipedia: “There are at least 2,800 refugees from South Sudan who reside in Israel. The majority of them arrived to Israel through the Israeli-Egypt border and most live in Tel Aviv, Arad, Eilat and Bnei Brak. Up to 7,000 South Sudanese are also believed to be living in Israel. Despite controversy in Israel over their presence, the Supreme Court of Israel decision from 13 January 2011, the employers of refugees and asylum seekers will not be fined; thus, de facto, they can legally work in Israel.”
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
