"To be Somali is to be Muslim"

Among Somalis it is a commonly held idea that, “All Somalis are Muslim and if there are any Somalis who say otherwise they are only being paid to do so.” Even Somalis who are not particularly devout in their practice of religion will claim allegiance to Islam. Although there is a growing number of Somali young people being trained in Islamic theology, the main barrier to believing the Good News among the Somalis is not so much a theological barrier as it is the societal view that, “To be a Somali is to be a Muslim”. Many people in Muslim majority countries have similar ideas and attitudes.

Questioning:

On the other hand, all of the infighting and killing going on across clan lines among the Somalis in recent years has led to some questioning Islam. Some ask, “Why has Islam not kept us from killing each other?”. Other Somalis who have lived in Muslim societies, such as Saudi Arabia or the Gulf States, have experienced a certain amount of discrimination causing them to become more open to the Gospel. At the same time Somalis who were fairly nominal in their practice of Islam in Somalia (where they were “all Muslim”) often take more seriously their Islamic identity and practice when they come to the West. They do this as a means of coping with the feared loss of identity and contamination by the evil aspects of Western society.

Flag of Somalia

Map of Somalia

Prayer starters:

* Pray that Somalis could see the true value of the kingdom (Mt.13:44-46). God’s forgiveness and abundant life in the Messiah are present realities of that kingdom.

* Pray that the Somalis who come to faith in the Messiah would not only be seen as rebels by their families. May they have opportunities to demonstrate that they can be culturally Somali and followers of Jesus at the same time.

Testimony from Somalia

Libaan spent years outside of Somalia in several different countries. Eventually, he received a portion from the Injil (Gospel). He was impressed by what he read. The text was beautiful with a deep message. After two more years he fully believed the message and entrusted his life to Isa Al Masih (Jesus the Messiah). Afterwards he experienced deep joy and peace about his future. God’s forgiveness filled him with hope! Libaan’s relatives heard that Libaan had become a Gal (Somali word for a pagan). Most Somalis can’t imagine that Christians may also be people who fear God, because they assume that Christians live a very worldly lifestyle (including drunkenness and immorality). Returning to see his family Libaan insisted that he not be called a Gal. In his view he was submitted to God, the Almighty. While his family received him well at first, later they rejected him. This experience broke his heart. Somali believers are few in number. They experience loneliness and rejection even from their most beloved family members. Only encouragement and comfort from God helps them to overcome.

Video: I Against My Brother - a Somali Story

One muslim woman's journey of faith that challenges her ideas about what it means to be a Christian, and drives her to a decision that could cost her everything... (Editors Note: wonderful video!)

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An Afar song

If there is still any place
On which we have not already put our foot!
If there is still any place
On which we have not already put our herds!
The only place where we did not yet live is the sea.
We also do not want you oh grave!
The foreign land we do not want!
The foreign rivers will not water us.
Our herds expect no danger
And graze outdoors at night.
Our young men are there always there to protect them!

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7: 16-17)

Despite being known as a warrior people, the Afar are very hospitable, filled with humour and enjoy in their own way the beautiful side of life. However the challenges of daily life in the hot lowlands of the horn of Africa can be crushing. Heat and drought shape the life of these 1.5 million people, feared by their neighbours and maintaining a solitary existence. With their herds they trek across the hottest areas on earth: Africa‘s Danakil Desert which extends over south Eritrea, north Djibouti and parts of east Ethiopia. Most Afar are illiterate, they breed camels and live almost exclusively from camel’s milk and corn bread. During drought periods in the early autumn the camel’s milk is often only enough for the children – the parents live for weeks exclusively from tea extracted from coffee trees. Even in such meager times the Afar write poems and humorous and sometimes sarcastic songs about famine and the end. Visitors can be impressed with the tenacity and resilience of this people.

Persecution for Christians

For centuries the Afar have had little chance to hear the Gospel. Recital of Qur’anic verses and fear of the spirits of the desert goes back generations for the Afar. But decades ago God already sent people from the Horn of Africa. Together with the few Afar believers, a radio work of high quality has been developed. The Gospel is now heard! During the last three years many in the Ethiopian church have begun praying fervently for the Afar. Some Afar have come to faith and are being trained and baptized. They often experience harsh persecution, but they are ready to suffer. In 2008 believing Afar sisters compiled an expanded radio series for women. Thanks to the devotion and love from these sisters nomadic women have the possibility of new life in Christ.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for the radio production team and their many listeners of this area.
• Pray that men and women will hear the new radio programme and open their hearts to the message of freedom.
• Pray that whole families will come to faith in the Messiah and establish new communities of believers.

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Djibouti is ethnically diverse, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of trade and commerce. Ethnic Somalis make up 60% of the people, 35% are Afar, with French, Arab, and other minorities making up the remaining five percent. The population is estimated at 496,374 (July 2007), and over 80% of the people live in the capital also called Djibouti.

Islam in Djibouti

The Somali and Afar tribes in this region were among the first in the Africa to adopt Islam. They worked as traders with close links to the Arabian Peninsula. Despite this over 1,000 year Islamic heritage, Djibouti, is much more tolerant to Christianity and open than its neighbours. Foreigners can live and work in Djibouti with relative ease. There is a free press and open access to the internet. The former Islamic Shari'a Court was replaced by the Family Court in February 2004.

The two main people groups of Djibouti are Somalis (mostly Issas) and Afars. The Afars are Cushitic, related to Somalis but culturally and linguistically distinct. There are between 1-2 million Afars scattered between Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea but only a handful have entered the Kingdom of God. In the capital there is a small fellowship of believers. They live in a poor, overcrowded area with minimal services and difficult living conditions. A group of Afar ladies are discovering the Bible in their own language.

Dreams and Visions

Among the Somalis, there are a few small groups of Christians that meet together. They tell of wonderful dreams which they have had, about how the Messiah handed them His Word while giving them water to drink and fruit to eat, and telling them not to worry, that He will care for them. Dreams are very important to the Somali believers because they cannot read. God uses his own means to speak to them.

Some people among the significant Ethiopian Christian minority in the country have a real vision and skill for reaching their Afar and Somali neighbours. They pray, sometimes whole nights of prayer, for their fellow refugees and the city of Djibouti. Let us believe together that united prayers will bring blessing to the city (Jeremiah 29:7).

Flag of Djibouti

Map of Djibouti

Prayer Points:

* In the past, tribalism and factions and leadership struggles have split them apart the different ethnic groups. A civil war (1991-1994) officially ended in 2001. In order for this not to happen again mutual respect and vision for the future are needed.

* Pray that the city of Djibouti will become a haven of true peace, and a lighthouse, shining into Somalia, Ethiopia, and the Middle-East.

* Several Christians have been able to give practical help through education, literacy, agricultural and translation programs. Pray that these efforts will bear much fruit.

* Pray for the establishment of indigenous churches among the Afars and the Somalis. There are daily Gospel radio broadcasts in the Afar and Somali languages.

Background on Djibouti (World Factbook)

The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but is also developing stronger ties with the US.

Economics of Djibouti

The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. An unemployment rate of 50% continues to be a major problem. Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears.

Statistics for Djibouti

Population: 757,074 (July 2011 est.) World rank #162

Life expectancy at birth: 61.14 years. World rank #183

Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)

Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Literacy: 67.9% - male: 78%, female: 58.4%

School life expectancy: 5 years

Djibouti - Video

Short video around the streets of Djibouti

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Many years ago the Comoros Islands were known for their exports of perfume essences, as well as vanilla and cloves. Also famous is the prehistoric deep sea fish known as the coelacanthe, thought to be long extinct, which was discovered off the coast earlier this century. Today, however, the Comoros have become the "Forgotten Islands."

The Union of the Comoros (formerly Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoro Islands) consists of volcanic islands off the coast of Africa, 300 kilometers (200 miles) east of Mozambique. The Comoro are one of Islam's southern most strongholds, adhering to a strict branch of the Sunni faith introduced by the "Shirazi" Arab migrants in the early 1500s.

The Comoro are an underdeveloped and poor nation with high unemployment. Most people are subsistence farmers. They are an artistic people: the women engage in needlework, the men in woodwork. They are proud of their religion and do not easily accept other religions. There are approximately 1,400 mosques throughout the three islands (the forth is French).

All open witness is forbidden, preaching the Gospel is illegal and Comoran Christians are not allowed to gather for public worship. The Bible is available in French and Arabic, and portions of the scripture are available in Comoran, however, with a literacy rate of just 56.5% (2003 estimate), recordings of the Gospel are much more effective. One African linguistic programme has translated the Gospel into three Comoran dialects and a recent report said that some Comoran have already given their lives to Christ.

The Coup

Following a 1999 military coup, the May 2000 constitution did not allow for freedom of religion. The December 2001 constitution does provide for this freedom, however, it also makes Islam the state religion. There are two Roman Catholic churches and one Protestant church. Even before the 1999 coup the government had restricted the use of these churches to non-citizens only. Harassment and social discrimination of Christians is widespread.

Flag of Comoros

Map of Comoros

Prayer Points

* Pray that the Gospel would be made available (written or otherwise) to all the wonderful people of Comoros and pray especially the children can hear it (Genesis 12:1-3). Pray for the translation work being done.

* A radio specialist came to the islands this year and determined that most people listen to small local stations, not shortwave overseas stations. Pray that Christian music and storying tapes can infiltrate the radio stations and touch the lives of people for Jesus.

* One cassette tape of Bible stories in the local language is now in use. Others are in the planning stages for the coming year. Pray that this project will be successful and bring people to Christ.

* Pray against fear, witchcraft, curses, and conversations with jinn (evil spirits). Comorian people are bound by the spirit of fear to these practices. Only the stronger power of Jesus Christ can release this stronghold on peoples' lives. (1 Peter 5:8, Matthew 10:28-30)

Background on Comoros (World Factbook)

Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975, some attributed to France but difficult to prove. Its political infighting has lead to each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May 2002. Although a tiny land area, it played a strategic role on the busy shipping lanes of the Mozambique Channel but the opening of the Suez Canal reduced the importance of the islands, hence, the "forgotten islands". South Africa, Mozambique, France and some Arab nations still have a keen political interest in this small nation.

They are a friendly and hospitable people. In the more remote hill areas the people are largely descended from African ex-slaves living in traditional houses made of banana and coconut leaves or lava cemented with chalk and sand. Those in the cities are descendants of Arab nobility and live in more modern houses.

Economy of Comoros

One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports.

Statistics on Comoros

Population: 794,683 (June 2011 est.). World rank #161

Life Expectancy at Birth: 64.2 years. World rank #172

Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 0.5%, Other 1.5%

Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

Literacy: 56.5%

School life expectancy: 11 years

Video: UNICEF:Protecting children from sexual violence in Comoros [2:08]

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Juba Arabs are an unreached Muslim people group

Living along the western border of Somalia the Juba Arabs are one of the smallest unreached people groups of Africa. Originally from the Arabian peninsular, the Juba speak an Arabic dialect called Maay. Approximately 650,000 Juba live in Somalia where they inhabit the fertile regions around the Wabi of Shebele. Another 275,000 Juba live across the border in Ethiopia.

Located on the Horn of Africa, few nations are poorer than Somalia with little industry and few natural resources. The region has been devastated by civil unrest and tribal war, which has continued since 1991. Although Somalia has 1,700 kms of coastline, the landscape is dry and barren with temperatures averaging 50 degrees Celsius all year.

While many Somali are nomadic herdsmen, the Juba are mostly farmers growing coffee, wheat, vegetables, dates, mangoes and pomegranates. Coffee is an important part of Juba life with a tradition of a daily coffee time. Because wood is so scarce, the Juba burn animal-dung for their fires.

How the Juba live

The Juba observe distinct class structures which are reflected in the various clothes and manner of dress. Women wear veils both at home and in public. When boys enter manhood they are allowed to wear a variety of headwear. Marriage among the Juba are strictly arranged within their own tribe. Children play a significant role and are considered a valuable asset to every family.

Flag of Somalia

Map of Somalia

Village life is essential to Juba culture. Their villages are somewhat more structured than other Arabs of Africa. Most homes are made of mud-brick with a flat roof and most have only one room. Occasionally, the roof is made of grass thatch which extends out to make a verandah. Another style of home is similar to the Sudanese. These homes are a one room circular hut with a cone shaped thatch roof. Floors of the houses are either mud or thatch. Goats and chickens are kept in a small yard and provide daily provisions of milk and eggs. A family will often own several small houses and have a surrounding fence of either mud or thorn branches.

The Juba are Sunni (Shafiite) Muslims. There is no church and no Bible available for the Juba.

Prayer guide for the Juba Arabs:

* Ask God to provide the strategies to know how to begin to reach out to the Juba of Somalia and Ethiopia. (Isaiah 43:19-21)

* Pray for the men and women who would be willing to face the necessary challenges to begin to pioneer a work among the Juba.

* Pray that Juba children and teenagers would have an opportunity to hear the Good News. (Romans 10:14)

* Stand against spiritual strongholds that have kept the Juba in darkness. (Psalm 70)

Background on Somalia (World Factbook)

The regime of Mohamed SIAD Barre was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy have followed in the years since. In May of 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool.

Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. Today the Horn of Africa has been hit by the worst drought in 60 years, with some areas on the verge of famine.

Economy of Somalia

Somalia's economic fortunes are driven by its deep political divisions. The northwestern area has declared its independence as the "Republic of Somaliland"; the northeastern region of Puntland is a semi-autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion is riddled with the struggles of rival factions. Economic life continues, in part because much activity is local and relatively easily protected. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings, but Saudi Arabia's ban on Somali livestock, due to Rift Valley Fever concerns, has severely hampered the sector. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewed skeptically.

Statistics on Somalia

Population: 9,925,640 (July 2011 est.) World Rank #86

- note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare.

Life Expectancy at Birth: 50.4 years. World Rank #213

Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

Religions: Sunni Muslim

Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy: 37.8% male: 49.7%, female: 25.8%

School life expectancy: 3 years

Video: Into Somalia (BBC)

Into Somalia from Christian Parkinson on Vimeo.

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Until 1974 the Harari were almost uniquely found in the city of Harar, and the city is at the centre of so much of their lives. They refer to themselves as "the people of the city". They call their way of life "the etiquette of the city" and their language "the city language".

Geography and Political Importance of the Harari people of Ethiopia

The city of Harar is situated in the mountainous area just east of the Rift Valley and to the west of Somaliland (Somalia). Harar is a "holy" Islamic, walled city, and as recently as 1887 non-Muslims were forbidden to enter. It has now become a popular tourism site. Originally the 16th-century walls of Harar had five gates, symbolizing the Five Pillars of Islam. "The city had its own language, Harari or Adare, which was spoken only within its walls, and issued its own currency." (Quotation taken from www.ethiopiaonweb.com.) The city has a population of 150,000, of whom about 10,000 are Adare-speaking Harari.

Because of its geographical location and political-religious importance, for centuries trade routes linked Harar with the markets in the Ethiopian highlands and with Arab merchants on the coast. After its decline as a political force in the 17th century, Harar city-state remained the chief centre for dissemination of Islam throughout southern Ethiopia. Harar's population also includes Oromo, Amhara, Somali, and Afar people groups. More details are available on the website www.ethiopiatravel.com/Harar_eng.htm.

The Gospel to the Harari people of Ethiopia

Flag of Ethiopia

Map of Ethiopia

The Harari people have had little opportunity to respond to the Gospel. There are few Christian resources available to them. The Jesus film and the Bible have not yet been produced in the Harari Adare language. The Harari are strong oral communicators, and missionaries must adapt their methods to work with this people group by developing their ability to tell Bible stories orally. There are few, if any, Christian groups focused on reaching the Harari.

Pray for the Muslim The Harari of Ethiopia:

* Pray for God to raise up Harari men and women who are respected in their culture, are open to the work of the Holy Spirit, and will one day be able to lead their people to Jesus.

* The Muslim peoples in Harar are generally suspicious of outsiders. Pray for creative access to these peoples - that national and expatriate Christians will be able to live among them and share the Good News of Christ.

* Harari Muslim women are isolated geographically, linguistically and socially from the outside world. Few among them get a chance to hear and believe. Harari women are being cheated of their spiritual birthright by Islam, which tells them their souls are of little value. Pray for creative ways of reaching the Muslim women of Harar with the Gospel.

Background on Ethiopia (World Factbook)

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the 1990's ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender territory considered sensitive to Ethiopia.

Economy of Ethiopia

Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for almost half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat (a mild drug) to supplement income. While GDP growth has remained high, per capita income is among the lowest in the world.

Statistics on Ethiopia

Population: 90,873,739 -- see notes below (July 2011 est.) World Rank #13

Life Expectancy at Birth: 56.19 years. World Rank #196

Ethnic Groups: Oromo 34.5%, Amara 26.9%, Tigraway 6.1%, Somalie 6.2%, Guragie 2.5%, Sidama 4%, Welaita 2.3%, other 11.3%

Religions: Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 43.5%, Protestant 18.6%), Muslim 33.9%, traditional 2.6%, other 0.7%

Languages: Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna 31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Literacy: 42.7% male: 50.3% / female: 35.1%

School Life Expectancy: 8 years

Population notes: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (World factbook)

Video: BBC Christianity

Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity via the BBC. An interesting if not different view of Ethiopia

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How prayer is pushing back the demonic darkness Uganda became known for

The backdrop to Uganda is the incredible natural beauty which caused Winston Churchill to proclaim Uganda as the "Pearl of Africa". But onto the stage came Idi Amin. Amin, claiming Uganda as Muslim, purged the country of the Asians, who at the time, owned over half the countries wealth and ran most industry. The country was ruined. Amin was ousted in 1979.

Alice 'Lakwena' Auma

Next on stage comes sorceress Alice "Lakwena" Auma, afraid and angry at the new government. She forms the Holy Spirit Movement, is defeated and eventually, a relative picks up her mantle and begins Africa's longest running conflict. Joseph Kony is his name and he proclaims Uganda should be run on the Ten Commandments.

In truth, he combined the Catholic use of rosaries and taking communion with the Islamic practice of praying towards Mecca. In addition, he retained local spiritualists and taught black magic. His called himself the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army or LRA.

The demonic side to Kony's fight is well known: 1.6 million displaced, murder of tens of thousands and the kidnapping and destruction of the innocence of at least 20,000 children's lives. In the natural realm, can you imagine bringing healing and a correct perspective of the biblical God after this mess? Fortunately, God is greater than all the demonic powers together - much greater.

United prayers

Thanks in part to Pastor John Mulinde, Christians around Uganda began to pray and seek God. Meetings and rallies were held and God's people cried out to Him. According to all reports, President Museveni heard about it and called pastors to him in Gulu. Although he was in the midst of a major offensive against the LRA called Operation Iron Fist, he helped the Christians to dismantle a system of demonic altars the LRA had set up.

Flag of Uganda

Map of Uganda

After this, the scene began to change. Families have testified of their children being returned to them. Uganda itself is doing better politically. It is Africa's rare success story in the fight against the AIDS pandemic (although interesting is that Human Life International says that "condoms are adding to the problem, not solving it"). The LRA still exists, but there is a hope of peace and stability. More important, there is a tremendous opportunity for the Gospel message to be shared in Uganda today.

So how can we pray for Uganda?

* Do not pray against the nation's problems. That will solve them, but others will rise in their place. Pray that Uganda finds its redemptive purpose, and God will take care of the problems.

* When people hear of what God is doing in Uganda today, they consider it impossible. But Uganda's example demonstrates that God can turn impossible situations around, and reveal himself as the living God in the midst of immense problems. Therefore pray in faith.

Background on Uganda

Islam was introduced into Uganda in the mid-1800's. Muslims are mainly Sunni, although there are Shi'a followers of the Aga Khan among the Asian community. While today's Muslims complain of being marginalized, in truth, private Qur'anic schools are becoming more common. Holy days celebrated as national holidays include Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. Muslim prisoners usually were released from work duties during the month of Ramadan. And the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council enjoys diplomatic relations with the USA.

On 3 June 1886, thirty-two young men, pages of the court of King Mwanga of Buganda, were burned to death at Namugongo for their refusal to renounce Christianity. Instead of impeding Christianity as intended, it only built the faith and strength of Christians.

Economy of Uganda

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support of foreign countries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages.

About Uganda

Population: 34,612,250 (July 2011 estimate) World Rank #36

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Life expectancy at birth: 53.24 years. World Rank #204

Ethnic groups: Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Bunyoro 2.7%, other 29.6%

Religions: Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none 0.9%

Languages: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic

Literacy: 66.8%

School Life Expectancy: 11 years

Sources: Uganda's Operation Iron Fist > news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2083241.stm

Alice "Lakwena" Auma > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Auma

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About the Yao

The Yao of Tanzania live in the south, along the border of Mozambique. They are mainly peasants who raise animals, have small businesses, and live in clans. Their chiefs are Mataka, Kanduru, and Mtalika. Traditions are passed on during initiation ceremonies. Women receive sexual instruction before marriage and initiation rites at the beginning of their first pregnancy.

Islam among the Yao

Around 1800, Arabs started slave trading in the Yao region. The Yao captured people from neighboring tribes and sold them to the Arabs. Through the slave trade, the Yao started to practice Islam; currently, about 95% of the Yao of Tanzania are Muslims. Islam has become a central part of Yao culture; when a Yao turns his back on Islam, he cuts himself off from his tribe and clan. He is completely abandoned, will not be given any help, and will be threatened in many ways to make him return to his original Islamic faith.

Christianity was Hated in Tanzania

The abolition of the slave trade in Tanzania in 1873 did not please the Yao and resulted in negative relations with their colonial rulers. Christianity, as the religion of the colonial rulers, was hated, despite the introduction of medical care and education by Christian missionaries. The Yao did not allow their children to attend the schools, fearing that they would start eating pork or become Christians, who were considered to be uncivilized. After many years this situation changed, and today relations are much better. Muslims may meet with Christians for events such as burials or weddings.

Tanzania Flag

Map pf Tanzania

Churches among the Yao

Anglicans and Catholics first spread the gospel among the Yao. Today, there are several evangelical and Pentecostal churches, many of which were established by the witness of missionaries and local Christian tradesmen. These churches spread the gospel through open-air meetings, personal witnessing, and Christian radio ministry in the Yao language. Some Yao are now pastors and Christian workers in Tanzania.

Pray for the Yao peoples of Tanzania:

* Some Yao men are especially lazy; some are unfaithful to their wives. Pray that Yao men will take a godlier role in their families and society.

* The Yao do not consider schooling to be essential. Pray for a change in worldview about education among the Yao.

* The sexual instruction given during initiation rites and television often lead to poor ethics and promiscuity. Pray for a change that leads to a more moral lifestyle among Yao youth.

* New believers often find it hard to have their basic needs met, encouraging them to return to Islam. Pray that the young Yao churches will develop a greater ability to work together and help believers.

* Christian radio service is limited in time and frequency. Pray for more workers and financial support, so that the ministry can be more extensive and bring listeners to Christ.

Background on Tanzania (World Factbook)

Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. The formation of a government of national unity between two leading parties succeeded in minimizing electoral tension in 2010.

Economy of Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. GDP growth in 2009-10 was a respectable 6% per year due to high gold prices and increased production.

Statistics on Tanzania

Population: 42,746,620 (July 2011 est.) -- see note below. World Rank #31

Life Expectancy at Birth: 52.85. World Rank #205

Ethnic groups: mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

Religions: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages

Literacy: 69.4% male: 77.5% female: 62.2%

School life expectancy: 9 years

Population Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

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Over 98 per cent of the Kenyan population is of African origin (spread across 40 different ethnic groups). In addition, Kenya is home to approximately 90,000 Indians and Pakistanis, 40,000 Arabs and 35,000 Europeans. There are at least 30 different languages and over 100 dialects spoken. The national language is Swahili, but English is spoken as the trade and administration language. About 60 per cent of the population practises traditional African animist religions, about 33 per cent is Christian, and about 6 per cent is Muslim (mostly Sunni).

The First Muslims

The first Muslims reached Kenya as early as the 10th century. An Islamic subculture developed mostly in the coastal areas as a result of intensive commerce with traders from the Arabian peninsula. This subculture gained importance through intermarriages with African women. However, it was only in the 19th century that Islam made inroads into the interior of the land. British colonialists were the main promoters of Islamic institutions. During the colonial period, Muslims enjoyed a privileged position because they helped the British army put down local rebellions.

After Kenya achieved independence in 1963 more and more Africans who professed Christian faith attended the secular education institutions; English became increasingly necessary for a career in public service. It became easier for educated Christian Africans to gain access to leading positions than for Muslims, who remained in a more traditional, tribal way of thinking.

Facing these social changes, many Muslims felt the need to affirm their identity, leading to an aggressive Islamisation in several regions of the country. The north-eastern province of Kenya is largely Islamic today, and Islam is advancing rapidly in the east. Considerable financial support from Saudi Arabia is going to schools and hospitals, which are often used for religious propaganda.

Flag of Kenya

Map of Kenya

The Kenyan constitution affirms freedom of religion as a fundamental right, and Muslims have the right to practise their own jurisdiction in the provinces dominated by Islam. Matters of civil law are therefore judged by sharia courts. The government even contributes financially to Islamic schools. Despite this, Muslims in Kenya are not totally satisfied. Some do not shrink from attacking Christian institutions to emphasise their demands. (During June 2004, Islamists burned down five Christian churches.)

Prayer Guide for Kenya:

* Pray for God's wisdom and protection for all Christians occupying a decision-making position in Kenya, so that the government might be able to deal properly with Islamisation efforts.

* Pray for encouragement for persecuted Christians living in regions dominated by Islam, so that they may be able to continue to stand firm.

* Pray for the production and distribution of evangelistic literature in Swahili for Muslims in the Islamic provinces.

Background on Kenya (World Factbook)

Kenya is a country of 47 districts, each with its own government semi-autonomous to the central government in the capital, Nairobi. The country's geography is as diverse as its people. It has a long coastline along the Indian Ocean and as you advance inland the landscape changes to savannah grasslands, arid and semi-arid bushes. The central regions and the western parts have forests and mountains while the northern regions are near desert landscapes.

Economy of Kenya

The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. Growth lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. The World Bank suspended aid for most of 2006, and the IMF has delayed loans pending further action by the government on corruption. Post-election violence in early 2008, coupled with the effects of the global financial crisis on remittance and exports, reduced GDP growth to 1.7 in 2008, but the economy rebounded in 2009-10.

Statistics on Kenya

Population: 41,070,934 -- See note below (July 2011 est.) World Rank #33

Life Expectancy at Birth: 58.48 years. World Rank #189

Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are technically Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely

Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Literacy: 85.1% male: 90.6% female: 79.7%

School Life Expectancy: 11 years

Population Notes: Population estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

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Six Major Tribes among the Saho of Eritrea

The Saho are divided into six major tribes: the Asaorta, the Mini-Fere, the Tero'a, the Haso, the Debri-Mela, and the Irob. The Asaorta is the largest tribe, which itself is broken down into five sub-tribes. The Saho are a semi-nomadic people who migrate seasonally from the eastern lowlands during the cooler winter months back up to the highlands during the intense heat of the summer. Today, the Saho often tend other people's cattle, in exchange for grain. Many Saho children wear little leather pouches around their neck, which are supposed to ward off evil spirits. Honey has traditionally been an important part of the Saho diet and the people are also known as good beekeepers.

Flag of Eritrea

Map of Eritrea

An ancient Tradition among the Saho of Eritrea

Traditionally, the Saho have used a cow's horn called a mahmuga to remove blood from those members who are ill. Using the cow's horn, the blood is leached from the one who is ill in an effort to remove the illness. They believe the sickness is contained within the blood of the individual, and by removing the blood life and health will be restored.

Pray for the Muslim Saho of Eritrea:

* Pray the Lord will reveal to the Saho that blood and sickness are indeed integrally related, but that it is the blood of Christ, which can cure them physically and above all from the sickness of sin.

* Pray that the Lord would send out workers to the Saho. "Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:38)

* Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to the Saho the truth about sin, real righteousness, and a sound understanding of God's judgment. (John 16:8)

* May the Lord prepare and raise up faithful spiritual leaders from within the Saho. "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2).

* Pray for physical, spiritual, and emotional strength for those who labour among the Saho.

* Pray for an open door for the Gospel among the Saho. "They began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles." (Acts 14:27).

Background on Eritrea (World Factbook)

It is unlawful to practice a faith unless it is one of four "registered" religions: Eritrean Orthodox, Muslim, Catholic, or Lutheran.

Reporters Without Borders classified the media environment in Eritrea at 178 out of 178, the lowest possible rating, and below that of North Korea at 177. Eritrea is the only African country to have no privately-owned news media (BBC quote).

Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone on the border with Ethiopia. An international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due to Ethiopian objections.

Economy of Eritrea

Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country, accentuated by the recent implementation of restrictive economic policies. Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. In January 2005, the government essentially banned all imports. The government strictly controls the use of foreign currency, limiting access and availability. Few private enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritrea's economy is heavily dependent on taxes paid by members of the diaspora. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military continue to interfere with agricultural production, and Eritrea's recent harvests have not been able to meet the food needs of the country.

Statistics on Eritrea

Population: 5,939,484 (July 2011 est.) World Rank #107

Life Expectancy at Birth: 62.52. World Rank #179

Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Kunama 2%, Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera) 5%

Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages

Literacy: 58.6% | male: 69.9% / female: 47.6%

School Life Expectancy: 5 years

Video: Saho Traditional Song

A traditional Saho song. Video was shot at a "liberation fest" in Sahel during Eritrea's struggle for independence

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