Christians killed and threatened in series of incidents in DRC, Nigeria and Mali
Christians in DRC, Nigeria and Mali have been rocked by a series of violent incidents, as Islamic militants intensify their influence in sub-Saharan Africa. Your urgent prayers are needed.
In yet more tragic news from sub-Saharan Africa, at least 49 Christians have been killed in another spate of attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), whilst dozens have lost their lives after a Christian-majority village in Benue State, Nigeria, was attacked.
At least 49 Christians killed in DRC
On 24 July, 31 Christians were among those killed in three simultaneous attacks on the villages of Mangambo, Katerrain and Kotaokola in DRC’s eastern province of North Kivu. This was followed last weekend (10 August) by further attacks in the region, this time Mukoni and Bayeti. More than 18 Christians were killed and another 14 people are reported missing.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group with links to so-called Islamic State, are believed to be responsible for all attacks.
“When I called this morning, a local church leader told me the ADF have basically exterminated a family; the only one who remains is the father,” says Pastor Paluku, an Open Doors local partner. “Three years ago they had killed the mother. Now they have killed her two sons, still in the same farm in Mukoni. They are all members of the 8e CEPAC [a church movement in the region]. Today is the prayer of consolation. Pray for us.”
Attacks by the ADF in eastern DRC have increased in recent months, leading to the mass displacement of Christians to safer areas.
“Countless communities in eastern DRC are in a state of perpetual conflict,” explains Jo Newhouse*, Open Doors spokesperson for work in sub-Saharan Africa. “The situation that Christians in eastern DRC are in is horrifying. Christians are forced to flee and some churches in the affected villages have closed because of the latest attacks.”
Christian-majority village attacked in Nigeria
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, at least 30 people were killed when suspected armed bandits and Fulani militants attacked the Christian-majority village of Ayati in Benue State.
“Today is the prayer of consolation. Pray for us.”
Pastor in DRC
According to news reports, the attack was a retaliation for the destruction of makeshift shelters belonging to Fulani herdsmen. This was done by government security forces to drive the Fulani and their cattle from land owned by Ayati village inhabitants. In response, Fulani militants are then said to have joined forces with armed bandits to attack the village.
However, Open Doors local partners on the ground believe a religious element also lies behind the awful incident, and Christians are intentionally targeted. “While we acknowledge that the root causes of the violence are multi-faceted and complex, assigning the violence to ‘bandits’ and ‘farmer-herder’ conflict is not helpful,” says Jo Newhouse.
“Ambiguous language creates the impression that the attacks are random acts of criminality and the perpetrators unknown. Instead, in most cases the perpetrators are known to be Fulani militants working systematically to uproot mostly Christian farmers from their land so that they can lay claim to it.”
Church leaders in Mali told: convert to Islam or leave
In further awful news from sub-Saharan Africa, church leaders in Mopti, a region in Mali, were summoned to a meeting where they were told the area was now under jihadist control. They have been given a week (until today, 14 August) to commit to a set of jihadist rules or leave.
“The jihadists entered the villages of Dougoutene and Kopro Na on Wednesday 7 August,” says a pastor and Open Doors local partner. “A contact of the jihadists came to give me and other pastors in the area letters saying we must meet with them. When we got there, they gave us all the new rules everyone in the area must follow. They said it was not war, but they wanted to inform us of their intention so that there would be no surprises when they come to attack.”
Some of the rules that all villagers, including Christians, must adhere to include:
- All Christians including pastors must convert to Islam
- All must help wage the Islamisation war
- Pay tithing to the jihadists. Every man aged 18 to 40 must pay a sum of 5,000 CFA francs (£6.50) each year
- Men and women must dress according to Islamic law.
Mali roses three places to number 14 on the World Watch List, in part due to the growing influence of Islamic militancy in the country. The awful ultimatum given to pastors in Mopti reinforces the heightened dangers facing our family in the country. Believers don’t want to accede to these demands, but are afraid of attacks. Many Christians have started to leave the area out of fear. Please pray for these leaders, their families and churches as they navigate this immensely difficult situation.
*Name changed for security reasons
- That all those affected by the attacks in DRC and Nigeria will feel deeply held and comforted by God
- For the church leaders in Mali, asking the Holy Spirit to give them wisdom, discernment, courage and protection as they respond to the jihadists’ threats and demands
- For the protection and strengthening of our persecuted family across sub-Saharan Africa.
Would you like to find out how you can help our persecuted family in sub-Saharan Africa? Our forthcoming prayer webinar on Thursday 5 September is dedicated to the growing violence facing Christians in the region. It will feature stories and updates, and an opportunity to pray.