Violence against Christians in Africa has escalated dramatically, as highlighted in a recent report by International Christian Concern (ICC). The report, authored by Linda Burkle, titled “Troubling Trends: Escalating Persecution of Christians in Africa,” examines the first four months of 2025 and provides a historical overview of the violence spanning two decades. Countries like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya are experiencing alarming increases in attacks, abductions, and forced displacements.
Nigeria remains the most perilous nation for Christians globally, ranking seventh on the 2025 World Watch List by Open Doors, which monitors religious persecution worldwide. The ICC report indicates that from July 2009 to March 2022, militant groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militants have been responsible for the deaths of over 45,000 Christians.
In 2022 alone, Nigeria witnessed the killing of approximately 5,000 Christians, a figure surpassing the combined global total. Between 2015 and 2020, Islamist militants murdered an estimated 11,000 to 12,000 Christians and destroyed over 2,000 churches. Additionally, around 3,800 Christians were abducted in 2021.
Despite the political shift with President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in 2023, the violence persists, with an estimated 7,000 deaths occurring in that year alone. Tinubu, a Muslim, had promised a balanced administration but has faced challenges in curbing extremist attacks, particularly in northern and central Nigeria, where Christians are extremely vulnerable due to the enforcement of Sharia law.
The report recounts several violent incidents from 2025, including a Palm Sunday attack where Fulani extremists killed at least 54 Christians in their homes, prompting the community to flee. March saw Boko Haram assassinate Catholic priest Sylvester Okechukwu in Kaduna State and another attack in Kebbi State claiming 11 Christian lives.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the situation is also deteriorating. The nation climbed to 35th on the Open Doors World Watch List in 2025 from 41st previously, primarily due to violence by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group linked with ISIS. February saw ADF militants behead 70 Christians, including women and children, during a church service. The violence has displaced millions in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
In March, an attack on Kirindera village left 19 people dead, with several structures, including a clinic and hotel, set ablaze. Another violent incident in January resulted in 53 Christian fatalities in Makoko and Masakuki. The report attributes the instability to militant threats, family pressures against conversion, and political interference.
Kenya, traditionally not a focal point for persecution reports, is witnessing increasing violence in its northeastern regions. These areas, predominantly inhabited by Muslim Somalis, are hostile to Christians, with church activities heavily restricted. Converts face threats from their families or neighbors, and government officials often overlook these incidents.
The Somali-based terrorist organization Al-Shabab, labeled an “entity of particular concern” by the US State Department and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, has executed bombings and assassinations in Kenya’s coastal and northeastern parts, targeting converts and missionaries. Attacks frequently occur in Mombasa, Garissa, Mandera, and Lamu, forcing many Christians to move inland.
The Voice of the Martyrs highlights that Christians face violence, social isolation, and pressure to revert to Islam, with attacks often initiated by their families or neighbors. Additionally, cross-border threats from Ethiopia’s Oromo Liberation Army, responsible for the 2024 kidnapping of two South Korean missionaries, exacerbate the situation.
Corruption and radical ideologies have intensified the challenges for believers, yet neither Nigeria nor the DRC has received the US State Department’s “Country of Particular Concern” designation. In response, Representative Christopher Smith of New Jersey introduced House Resolution 220 on March 11, currently under review by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
ICC President Jeff King called for global attention, stating, “The Church in Africa is facing some of the most severe challenges of our time. We must not look away. These are our brothers and sisters.” He advocates for political engagement and urges believers in democratic nations to contact their elected officials to push for international intervention.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
