PRAY FOR MALI
– That stability, law, and order will return to Mali.
– For our partners’ work to help vulnerable Christians earn a living.
– That new believers will find fellowship and retain their hope and joy.
“More than once, my family sent jihadists to my house to harm us. But one day, while my husband was on a business trip, he was gunned down. He was killed for his faith... I have no idea what happened to his body.”
– Naomi
Country
Profile
- Region
- Africa
- Sources of persecution
- Islamic Oppression
- Population
- 21,474,000
- Christian population
- 490,000
- Religions
- Islam
- Leader
- Interim President Assimi Goita
- Score
- 76
What’s Life Like For Christians?
Mali has gone through great political instability in the last few years, which has strengthened Islamic extremist groups and expanded their territory. This has put Christians at greater risk of violence. Islamic extremists abduct people, including Christians, and kill them or keep them in sexual slavery.
Others are put under pressure to join the groups, where they will be forcibly converted to Islam and made to fight. Christian homes, businesses and property are targeted, keeping many in poverty. Christian missionaries and NGOs in the north cannot operate safely – there is a real danger of being attacked or abducted by extremists.
If somebody from a Muslim background becomes a Christian and escapes persecution by extremists, they will still face pressure from their family to give up their new faith. This can include being divorced, losing all the support of their family, social isolation, and even losing access to their children.
What has changed this year?
Mali has risen several places on the World Watch List this year, and this is due to an increase in pressure in many different areas. The government sees Christianity as a Western influence, and derides it. Jihadists are expanding and the general situation in the country is deteriorating fast.
The country has seen two coups in the recent past, which has helped the jihadists expand their power and target Christians. It seems that the government is only effective in major cities and those areas outside are in the hands (directly or indirectly) of jihadists who entice the youth into joining their ranks.
