AWA FLASH Update December 2010

This update can be retrieved in PDF format by clicking on the following link: Anderson Update 10_12_03.pdf.

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

Much information and disinformation has circulated about life in Côte d’Ivoire during the last few days. International and national press sources promote different facets of truth and falsehood at the same time. The following excellent summary provided by another gives the most balanced and insightful summary we’ve read lately. We share it to request your informed prayers for God’s moving here. We’ve plenty of other sharing about ministry to do, but believe these events should be addressed with our time before we can report the good works ordained for us (Ep.2:10).

Sincerely in Good Hands and seeing HIM at work,
Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Summary by fellow resident missionaries

You have no doubt been hearing that Alassane Ouatarra (ADO), the presidential candidate of the opposition, won the elections in Cote d'Ivoire. Well, kinda, but maybe not. What has happened is the following:

• The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) had until Wednesday at midnight to announce the results.
• The incumbent president's (Laurent Gbagbo) supporters began saying right after the polls closed on Sunday, that the results from four major regions in the North, ADO's territory, must be thrown out because of voter fraud and violence against their supporters.
• When the IEC tried to announce the results on Tuesday night apparently without a consensus, which is required in their rules, Pres. Gbagbo's people physically intervened at the press conference and stopped the announcement in front of the international press and thus, the results were not announced by the Wednesday deadline.
• What is supposed to happen next in constitutional law is that the "Constitutional Council" takes over and verifies and announces the results. This group is chosen by the incumbent president.
• This afternoon the president of the IEC overstepped his mandate by announcing to the international press after the deadline, the results which presented ADO as the winner.
• Since then, the Constitutional Council has said that those results are invalid and that they have the only authority for announcing the results. (They have seven days to make the announcement).
• There has also been a national curfew since Saturday night declared by the President and extending until next Sunday from 7pm until 6am every day.
• Tonight we heard on the national television station that all international radio and television stations are being closed down by the government and all the air, land and water borders of the country are closed.
• Meanwhile, the Security Council of the United Nations has met and threatened anyone in Cote d'Ivoire who impedes the electoral process with "appropriate measures". The International Criminal Court has also threatened the country with consequences.
• All of what is happening in this country must be seen against a background of colonisation by the French which officially ended politically in 1960 but which many Ivorians feel is still firmly in place economically and which is condoned if not encouraged by the other Western powers. The incumbent President's people believe that the Western international community wants ADO in power because he is more likely to go along with their continuing control of many of the resources of the country. These are some of the thoughts in the minds of Pres. Gbagbo's supporters.
• On top of all of this is an international press which sometimes seems to fabricate rather than report the news with inaccuracies and opinions which reflect the interests of their nations and networks rather than the interests of those nations they are reporting.
  So...you can see that the situation is extremely complicated and multi-layered and that it is not just about Cote d'Ivoire. In fact, if we read the apostle Paul correctly, it is not even just about nations and people but about a spiritual war that is taking place right now in the heavenly sphere - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms...pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:12, 18
  
  An Ivorian friend told me a couple of hours ago that he had spoken with a high up military official who said, "Only God can save Cote d'Ivoire now." That is always true, but if it is being recognized by leaders in this country at this time, that very thought, if accompanied with faith, could indeed save this nation. Please pray that the leaders of both sides in this conflict and the nation as a whole turn in faith to the only one who ever is able to really deliver us. Pray for a miracle in the hearts of the leaders. What a blessing to know that our God is in control of all of this and that we can trust him with everything.
  
  Some positive news to close out...a verse we read this morning: "The Lord will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure." Isaiah 33: 6
  
  Thank you for your prayers,
  A fellow resident missionary of the Andersons
  P.S. We are safe.

DEC. 3 - 4:00 PM announcement added by VERLIN & DEBBIE – The Constitutional Council has disqualified the results of some voting regions and declared Pres. Gbagbo the victor. An International news source announced at 5:00 PM that Alassane Ouattara rejects this decision and will be sustained as the victor by the United Nations.

PRAY FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION.