| Country rank | 41 | |
| Last year’s rank | 45 | |
| Region | Africa | |
| Population | 33 230 000 | |
| Christians | 18 012 000 (54.2%) | |
| Main Religion | Christianity |
41Mozambique
For Christians in Mozambique, Islamic oppression is the most common form of persecution. One Open Doors country expert shared that “radical Islamic attacks have claimed the lives of many Christians”. The brutality of these groups has only increased, including a prominent extremist group who has links to the Islamic State. The presence of drug cartels in some areas is making the lives of Christians – especially church youth workers – difficult.
What changed this year? Mozambique joined the WWL Top 50 in 2021 after extremist Islamic attacks claimed the lives of many Christians there, and it’s risen several spots in 2022. An Islamic State-affiliated group is seeking to establish an Islamic Caliphate in Mozambique. Their efforts have included numerous atrocities, burned churches and religious schools, and displacement of tens of thousands of people from the northern part of the country. These attacks have allowed religious persecution, which used to be limited almost entirely in the north, to spread. In addition to the violence, pressure has increased on believers in Mozambique.
Meet “Furaia”
“Things are hard. I was used to having my husband to share life and hardships with. I had a family and relatives. Now I’m alone with the children, wondering what to tell them, how to bring them up, and how to give them adequate protection. I can only pray for peace and that we will not be abandoned.”
Furaia, a Christian in Mozambique who saw her husband murdered during an Islamic extremist attack. She was helped by Open Doors partners. With her family’s most urgent needs covered, Furaia might have a little more time and headspace to properly mourn her losses.
Pray for Mozambique
- Pray with churches and their leaders who’ve taken in thousands of families displaced by the violence. Pray that they’ll respond with compassion and understanding, especially towards the traumatised and vulnerable. Pray for wisdom in how best to reach these families and support them in their time of need.
- Pray for economic development in the region. Unemployment and lack of basic services have left youth disillusioned and angry. As a result, many have joined Islamic extremist groups. Pray that the government and international partners will ensure that all benefit from these community projects.
- Pray for wisdom and provision for Open Doors as we determine the appropriate interventions. Pray for protection over staff as they travel to volatile regions. Pray for His blessing on all logistics.
What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Mozambique?
Through training and economic empowerment, Open Doors focuses on emergency support to Christians affected by increasing extremist violence in the north.
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