A harrowing new investigation by Open Doors International has laid bare the intensifying wave of persecution against Christians across the African continent. The findings, presented during the Association of Evangelicals in Africa’s General Assembly in Nairobi, expose a disturbing surge in faith-based violence, forced displacement, and the systematic destruction of Christian infrastructure, particularly in sub-Saharan regions.
According to the 2025 World Watch List, more than 380 million Christians are now experiencing extreme levels of persecution globally, with Africa emerging as a crisis zone. The report documents the deaths of 4,476 Christians last year alone, the destruction or targeting of over 28,000 Christian homes and businesses, and an estimated 16 million Christians violently displaced in sub-Saharan Africa—a region rapidly becoming the epicenter of global Christian persecution.
George Williams, the Africa Director at Open Doors International, described the situation as reaching a “breaking point.” Addressing church leaders and civil society at the assembly, he emphasized that what many outside observers perceive as isolated incidents are, in fact, part of a coordinated and sustained assault on faith communities, often conducted with impunity.
Driving this crisis is a complex web of extremist insurgencies, political instability, and unchecked militarization. Groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to target Christian enclaves, particularly in Nigeria, where entire villages have been wiped out. Williams cited staggering figures: over 19,000 churches have been destroyed in Africa over the past two decades—15,000 in Nigeria alone—largely in northern regions where Christian populations have either fled or been decimated.
The report also reveals shocking discrepancies in official data. While the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported 54,457 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Plateau State, local assessments suggest the real number is more than 100,000. This mismatch in figures has translated into inadequate humanitarian response, exacerbating the suffering of those who have lost everything. Many displaced Christians live in overcrowded camps without sanitation or food security, often traumatized by the loss of family members.
Williams gave a chilling account of one such camp in central Nigeria, where he met thousands of women and children living in makeshift shelters. Notably absent were adult men—many of whom had been killed in attacks. He also shared the personal testimony of a young Nigerian man who watched militants execute his father and younger brother for refusing to abandon their faith. “This is silent persecution,” Williams said, “but it is screaming through the lives of the survivors.”
Beyond Nigeria, the shadow of persecution extends to countries like Sudan, Somalia, and across the Sahel, where over 4,500 Christians were killed in 2024 alone. That same year, more than 114,000 believers were displaced, 16,000 homes destroyed, and nearly 2,000 churches attacked or shut down.
Williams noted a growing phenomenon of the “emerging church” in hostile regions, made up of secret believers from Muslim backgrounds. This underground movement now numbers over 5 million Christians who gather in hidden spaces, often risking imprisonment or death for practicing their faith.
Despite the bleak statistics, the Assembly was also the launchpad for hope. Open Doors and the Association of Evangelicals in Africa jointly unveiled Arise Africa—a pan-African campaign rallying global Christian solidarity. The initiative aims to empower African churches to support persecuted communities while calling on the global Christian community to engage through advocacy, prayer, and direct support.
Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of the World Evangelical Alliance’s Geneva office, stressed that advocacy must go beyond emergency appeals. She encouraged Christian leaders to become modern-day “Esthers and Daniels,” willing to influence policy and engage government leaders. She emphasized that building interfaith coalitions could enhance credibility and open diplomatic channels, noting that in many African nations, religious cooperation is key to securing systemic change.
The campaign also includes a call for internal reflection within the African church. Williams pointed to a lack of unity and spiritual complacency as vulnerabilities that extremists have exploited. “This is a time for repentance and collective action,” he said. “The body of Christ must not only pray but also act.”
