African terrorism
Christians in Africa are coming under greater threats from terrorist groups, a report from the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has claimed.
Citing figures from Christian prayer organisation Window International Network, the WEA said Christians in the 10/40 Window especially are facing a dramatic rise in persecution in the form of abduction, torture and death.
Although specifics could not be given for fear of reprisals against the Christian communities involved, the report said, ‘In recent years, terrorist groups have begun abducting Christians and either holding them for ransom or murdering them.
‘Al-Shabaab (Somalia), al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM-Algeria), al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and partisans of Sharia, have all made a practice of targeting westerners and Christians’.
It said that in Eritrea, on the Horn of Africa, 3000 Christians are incarcerated in severe conditions. It called on Christians to pray that their brothers and sisters might be ‘strong in the Lord and in the power of his might’ (Ephesians 6:10).
The WEA added: ‘Pray the Lord will raise up watchmen who are prayer warriors to beseech God on behalf of persecuted Christians’.
