On Monday a wave of violence that closed embassies and businesses engulfed the poorest country in the Arab world and could reshape its political landscape. Street battles raged between Shiite Houthi rebels and government forces in Yemen's capital and talks between President Hadi and representatives of the Houthi rebels broke down. (Houthis rejected a draft constitution dividing Yemen into six regions.) On Tuesday, Houthi rebels shelled the presidential palace and seized the state-run media. The commander of the Presidential Protection Force said, ‘what is happening is a coup.’ The powerful Houthi rebel movement dominates northern Yemen and seeks to strengthen the rights of the Zaidi sect (20-30% of the population). Clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels may strengthen Al Qaeda's position. Yemen is number 14 on Open Doors World Watch List of persecutors of Christians.

The murderous attack on the office of French magazine Charlie Hebdo has renewed the debate in Australia about Section 18C of the federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975. Free market think-tank, the Institute of Public Affairs, has called on the Abbott Government to repeal Section 18C. The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has also backed calls for the Government to revisit the debate about freedom of speech. ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said all public debate should be conducted respectfully but it should not be against the law to ‘insult’ or ‘offend’. ‘Inciting hatred or violence would still be an offence, but not ‘insulting’ or ‘offending’,’ Mr Shelton said.

Towns in the provinces have experienced a return of armed confrontations. There is no let-up for the civilian population and people are continuing to cross over the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo to seek refuge there. Fighting is reported between the Seleka and anti-Balaka in Dékoa, fierce fighting in Djimbi between Goula and  Runga tribespeople (all Seleka) has lead to a number of deaths with townspeople hiding in their houses. Muslims and French Sangaris troops have been locked in mortal combat in Bria. Sadly this is the climate in which preparations are being made for the Bangui Forum which is supposed to be a national dialogue that will restore peace to the CAR. Delegations including representatives of different religions will go up and down the country holding preparatory talks in different places. (Including areas where fighting is going on).

The Christian community in Niger experienced weekend violence that claimed the lives of ten people and led to the destruction of dozens of places of worship and Christian homes. The protest started in the country’s second city, Zinder, quickly spreading to surrounding areas. Ten people died, and more than 70 churches were destroyed, along with Christian schools, organisations including an orphanage run by the Assembly of God Church.  Forty orphans are under the care of police. Over 30 Christian homes were looted and burnt. Those affected are left them with ‘only the clothes on our e backs.’ Lack of security forces intervention turned Christians and their properties into easy targets for the protesters and looters. Niger’s president said, ‘Those who plunder places of worship, persecute and kill their Christian compatriots, or foreigners living on the soil of our country, did not understand anything about Islam’. The church has called Christians to respond with the love of Christ.