Persecuted Church: Mali – World Watch List #7

Population: 16.3 million (351,000 Christians)

Until recently, Mali was a relatively stable, constitutionally secular state with a moderate Muslim population. However, following a military coup in March 2012, Islamist fighters and Tuareg rebels seized control of the north, declaring it an independent state and establishing a harsh Islamic regime. Tens of thousands of Malians fled south or left the country, including many Christians. There is now a very high degree of hostility towards Christianity in the north – Christians simply cannot exist.

Please Pray:

• For those providing aid and shelter to Christians who have fled to the south
• That international forces will intervene successfully against the occupation of the north, and restore peace and stability
• That the tendency towards religious radicalisation in Malian society would be reversed.

Persecution Dynamics:

Mali’s appearance towards the top of the WWL is surprising. The country has always been a typical West-African state with a moderate version of Islam and a secular constitution, which proscribes religious political parties, even though a high percentage of its population is Muslim. In the north, the situation has been more difficult than in the south, but international missionaries have even been able to work there.

However, the situation changed with the capture of the north of the country by Tuareg separatist rebels and Islamists fighters, and the creation of the independent state of Azawad in northern Mali. The Islamists soon established an Islamic state with a stern Sharia regime in the north. Christians couldn’t stay. They were also very hard on traditional Muslims, killing people, amputating limbs and destroying Sufi sanctuaries. Since the fighting started in March 2012, tens of thousands of Malians have fled to the south or to neighbouring countries. There is a very high degree of hostility – Christians and churches simply cannot exist. In the south, Christians can live but have to be cautious.

There is widespread concern that Mali is fast becoming a Jihadist hub. Much will depend on the success of the intended intervention of the international community against the occupation of northern Mali. In October 2012, the UN stated that they were ready to send international forces to help the Malian government reclaim its lost territories in the North. Preparations for this are expected to take several months.