Christianity is facing a deadly crisis in more than half of Africa's 54 countries, with reports of persecution, killings, and displacements in 28 nations on the continent. The situation is particularly dire in Nigeria, where nine out of 10 Christians killed for their faith in 2023 were from. The country has been described as one of the deadliest places on earth to be a Christian, with a staggering 82% of global Christian deaths occurring there.
The Nigerian research group Intersociety has labeled the killing of Christians in Nigeria as genocide, reporting over 8,000 Christian deaths or abductions from January 2023 to January 2024. Shockingly, over 18,500 Christian worship places were destroyed in Nigeria between 2009 and 2023.
According to reports, the violence against Christians in Nigeria is ongoing, with an estimated 500-600 Christians hacked to death in the first few months of 2024. The rise of radical Islam in Africa has led to an increase in the targeting and persecution of Christians by groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria and al-Shabaab in Somalia.
Across the African continent, 28 countries are listed on the Open Doors' US 2024 World Watch List, where Christians face oppression and violence due to their faith. In Nigeria alone, an estimated 16.2 million Christians are among the 34.5 million displaced people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Reports of persecution also come from the Sahel region, including Chad, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where jihadists are imposing radical Islam on the population. In Sudan, there have been 165 church closures and attacks on Christians, highlighting the widespread persecution faced by believers in the region.
As Christians continue to risk their lives due to political instability, conflict, and extremism, organizations like Open Doors US are calling for prayers and support for those facing persecution. The global community must stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians in Africa and work towards ending the violence and protecting the rights of religious minorities.
