Please pray for the Antakarana people of northern Nosy Mitsio. A wealthy business-owner wants to build a large tourist resort on Nosy Mitsio and he’s made many big promises to the local people if they would allow it. However, the people have recently learned that the agreement requires them all to be removed from their homes, their rice-fields, their cemeteries, and other sites important to them. It would affect approximately 10 villages and several hundred people. Reportedly very large sums of money have already been paid to the regional government, but without consultation of the local government who would normally manage such agreements. The people of Nosy Mitsio feel like they’ve been greatly tricked, but some are also afraid that the rich people will resort to violence to get what they want. Please pray that the people of Nosy Mitsio will have peace, that they won’t be forcibly removed from their land, that self-interest and corruption won’t be prosperous, and that God would judge all those involved. Pray that this becomes an opportunity for the people of Nosy Mitsio to seek God as the just and loving judge who defends the cause of the poor and helpless, as seen in Jesus.
