Africa is not a country, but a continent of 54 independent governments. Persecution takes a different form in every one. The following article is an overview of the situation in Africa. For 13 years, Rae Burnett, Africa director for Christian Aid, has traveled extensively throughout North Africa, the Sahel, and Sub-Saharan Africa, meeting with many persecuted believers. All the stories featured were personally related to her by those involved.

By Rae Burnett

In the Maghreb: Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania

The constitution of every North African country mandates Islam as its religion and Arabic as the official language. Conversion is forbidden. Schools are Islamic. Believers are in real danger. Yet each one is quietly and faithfully going "about their Father’s business," bringing people to Christ and discipling them.

HALIMA and her daughter, Sara, came to know the Lord through an indigenous underground missionary in a country that cannot be named for security reasons. Halima's Muslim husband divorced her and threw her out. He kidnapped Sara and had Halima imprisoned for confessing Christ.

Because of her degree in childhood education, the judge unexpectedly released Halima after some months and awarded her custody. Both are overflowing with joy because they have Christ and each other. They certainly have little else. Their one tiny, windowless room with no water, a lone lightbulb illuminating the mildewed walls is in the basement of Halima’s family home. Her siblings will not allow them to live upstairs unless she recants her faith.

The unventilated, plumbing-free "kitchen," is located next to Halima's bed in the basement of their Muslim family house.

Abdulatif and his family live in one room of the house of his Muslim father and new bride. He and wife, Fati, shared how they quietly read Bible stories and sing Christian songs with their five children every day. They know they are raising five indigenous missionaries.

Halima, Abdulatif, Fati, their children, and all who are known or suspected to be Christians are watched constantly. Many report failed attempts to kill them. Most know martyrs and those who have suffered far more than they.

No one will employ them. Halima is very creative and prays to be trained as a tailor. Abdulatif is slightly crippled and longs for a motorcart to earn some money making deliveries. These simple things would change their lives dramatically, but they are completely out of their reach.

Even as you read this, many of our brothers and sisters are secretly imprisoned, tortured or killed. Many "just disappear," never to be seen again. Some are sentenced by courts and can be visited and encouraged. Many are never freed. Others are just unceremoniously poisoned by their families. Some are hacked by knives, blinded, castrated... the list of horrors goes on and on.