Christians in central Mali have been told to support Islamic terrorists in their fight against the country’s military power or leave.
Pastors in the Mopti region were told by extremists that they could either provide men to join their fight against the army, give them money to hire mercenaries, or convert to Islam and close their churches, or they would be forced to leave the area.
It is not clear which terrorist group summoned the pastors, but there is speculation that it could have been Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM). Churches have been praying and fasting about the situation.
Mali is ranked at number 14 on Open Doors’ World Watch List, which ranks the countries where it is hardest to live as a Christian. Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, said: ‘There is a real sense of fear for Christians living in the Mopti and Segu regions which have been taken over by Islamic extremists.
‘They face an impossible choice, either serving the wishes of extremist Islamic fighters or being driven out of their homes. Thousands of displaced Christians who are now living in Bamako might feel safer, but they have lost everything – their livelihood and homelands.’
