Violence intensified in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, and Christians face even more of a “squeeze”. Across the region destabilisation creates a powder keg that impacts Christians and empowers jihadist groups, deeply impacting the Christian community through targeting. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most violent place in the world for Christians. More than 4,600 Christians were killed for their faith during the 2024 WWL reporting period. The problem spans the continent—violence was intense in, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Niger and more.

More than 4,600 Christians were killed for their faith in 2023

In Central Africa and the Sahel, political instability has enabled jihadist groups like ADF, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISWAP (the Islamic State group’s West Africa affiliate) and other extremist organisations—these groups target Christian communities and churches for violence.

In Sudan, the civil war has increased the suffering of the church; to take control of territory, and in many of these cases they target Christians, killing believers and burning communities/churches; and in Nigeria, rampant lawlessness and an inability (or unwillingness) of the government to intervene has led to ongoing turmoil that has strengthened Boko Haram, ISWAP and militant Fulani herders.

Approximately 16.2 million Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa are living as forcibly displaced persons.

Nigeria accounted for about 9 out of every 10 of the religiously motivated killings in sub-Saharan Africa. The displacement crisis is impacting Christians. Data from Switzerland-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees indicate that at the end of 2022, 34.5 million people were living as forcibly displaced persons (refugees and IDPs) in the Sub-Saharan African countries. Of those 34.5 million, a (very) conservatively estimated 16.2 million were Christians. That represents about 3% of the 534 million Christians who live in the 26 Sub-Saharan countries with at least “High” overall levels of persecution.

More than 14,000 churches were attacked or closed in 2023

Churches have remained under unprecedented attacks. More than 14,000 churches were attacked or closed in 2023. That’s a 7-fold increase over 2022. The situation for churches and Christian-run schools, hospitals and cemeteries around the world has grown worrisome this year.