Faith under fire, communities in crisis
The current escalation of violent conflict has, without doubt, been triggered by the presence of jihadist groups… Pre-existing conflicts – particularly between pastoralist Fulani and agrarian communities – which had been peacefully managed for generations are now being manipulated by jihadists… This has resulted in instances of mass violence and a rapid erosion of community institutions. As the spiral of violence and retaliation escalates, governments are losing access to local communities while also facing growing levels of political discontent.
— German Institute for Global and Area Studies (2020)
A Displacement Crisis
- 35 million IDPs in SSA
The violence is driving an overwhelming displacement crisis. There are nearly 35 million people internally displaced by violence and conflict in SSA. At least 16.2 million are Christians. Many of them are driven from their homes and off their land because of their faith in Jesus.
Direct Victims of Violence
Fourteen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are within the first 50 on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List. Countries here are among the most violent for Christians, with Nigeria topping the list.
Open Doors reports:
- 4,294 Christians were killed for their faith in SSA (3,100 in Nigeria)
- 3,381 Christians abducted (2,830 in Nigeria)
- 2,613 Christians sexually violated or forcefully married for their faith in this region
- 23,517 Christian houses, properties and businesses attacked due to their faith
- 5,276 Churches and public buildings were destroyed in the SSA region
This isn’t just an accidental consequence—it’s a deliberate strategy clearly illustrated by mass abduction of Christians, and subsequent pressure to renounce their faith, as well as targeting of their spiritual overseers and places of worship. In many places across the region Christian communities are emptied and taken over by Islamic extremists.
While the drivers of violence are varied and complicated, the experienced consequences are very similar: Christian presence is eliminated. The displaced often face squalor in formal and informal displacement camps, facing lack of basics like food, water and sanitation, on top of ongoing threats from the jihadists. Nine out of the top 10 most neglected displacement crises are in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ongoing Effects of Violence
The effects of this targeted violence against God’s children have been devastating:
- Spiritually Many have not been discipled to expect persecution or respond in a Biblical way, and so are giving up the faith. We hear all too often of Christians who have gone back to traditional religions in the hope of supernatural protection. We have also seen yielding to radical belief systems, and a devastating break down in peaceful co-existence. It is threatening the presence of the Church.
- Emotionally We witness worrying signs of persistent individual and collective trauma, anger and despondency.
- Socio-Economically The result is unmeasurable, as Christians face loss of property, loss of income, loss of access to education, displacement, poverty, and on the long term, social demise.
- Physically Christian communities across this region deal with cycle upon cycle of death, injury, loss, and long-term health issues related to the constant stress.
The impact on the overall health of the Church, and society at large, has been immense. Partners have told us that they fear the Church could simply be pushed out of strategic regions. Christians have told us they generally feel alone in their stance against violence. The broader Church, media, governments, and civil society (local, national, international) do not sufficiently acknowledge or act to stop the violence or its effects.
