Hostile
Niger
French-speaking Niger is home to about 2.6 million nomadic Tuareg people as well as several million Fulani. Both groups live throughout the Sahara region and are predominantly Muslim, with less than 1 percent Christian. The Fulani in this region have not been as radicalized as they have been in Nigeria. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, and most people are subsistence farmers. Large-scale attacks against Christian communities are infrequent but did occur in 2015, when more than 80 churches throughout the country’s southern region were destroyed. More recently, five churches in the Tillaberi region were attacked by Islamists in 2021. The country has been affected by conflicts in Mali and Burkina Faso, where Islamist groups linked to al-Qaida and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) have attacked border regions to expand their influence in the Sahel. The ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in northern Nigeria has pushed Nigerian refugees into Niger, displacing thousands in the southeast.
Major Religion
93 percent are Muslims, with less than 2 percent Christians.
Persecutor
The primary persecutors are Islamic extremists and community members.
WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN NIGER
Few Christians live in this heavily Muslim country, but several key Christian leaders are reaching their nation for Christ. Entire villages are placing their faith in Christ when evangelists share the gospel. Islamists from surrounding countries, such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, are attacking Christians inside Niger with increasing frequency. Several villages and other groups in border areas have been displaced from their homes because of these attacks.
Access to Bibles
Bibles are available in the cities but not in rural areas. Many people are illiterate, and audio Bibles in their dialects are highly desired. Give Bibles
VOM Work
VOM supports the efforts of several evangelists and other front-line workers who are reaching nomadic groups through Bible distribution (print and audio), discipleship and biblical training, and assistance to persecuted Christians. We also support churches that have been displaced by extremist violence. Give to VOM’s Global Ministry
Pray for Niger
- Pray that the Lord will comfort pastors who have been unjustly arrested and will provide for their families' needs.
- Pray for Christian farmers who have been driven from their land by Islamist extremists.
- Ask the Lord to soften and change the hearts of Muslim extremists who regularly attack Christians.
- Using Philippians 4:19 as a guide, ask God to supply all the needs of Christians driven from their homes.
- Pray that Christians will be models of hope and peace in a region of political instability and uncertainty.
