Mali: Believers facing stark ultimatum

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.