The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mocímboa da Praia, Mozambique was destroyed by jihadists in June 2020.
entire communities fled towns and villages amid exponential violence, especially in the north/Middle Belt. Bandits, ethnic groups and jihadists have attacked Christian and other faith groups, prompting criticism of the government for its failure to uphold the rule of law. • In Sudan, accusations of war crimes and brutal Islamist oppression have been reported as the country faces the world’s largest displacement crisis. After more than three years, the civil war has so far resulted in the damage or destruction of more than 100 churches. A global context marked by conflict and political upheaval in the Middle East has heightened fears for the survival of Christianity in core parts of its ancient heartland. • In Syria, at a time of continued upheaval, following the downfall of the Assad regime, leading clerics publicly warned of a possible existential threat to the Church amid reports its Christian population had declined by more than 80 percent since 2011.
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In southern Lebanon, attacks caused a mass exodus of people and destruction of Church properties, causing Christian communities to become ghost towns.
Africa Christian persecution in Africa has increased — with six of the 10 countries most affected by terrorism in the Global Terrorism Index 2026 found on the continent. Burkina Faso (2 nd ), Niger (3 rd ), Nigeria (4 th ), Mali (5 th ), Somalia (7 th ), and Democratic Republic of Congo (8 th ) indicate that the Sahel region is now at the epicenter, signaling a geographical shift and a concerning trend in global terrorism. Cameroon and Mozambique are also in the top 20. 3 Christian communities in these countries have been disproportionately impacted, as they are for the most part targeted by jihadist groups or caught in broader patterns of sectarian and communal violence. The countries most affected — especially Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — contain significant Christian populations, often living alongside Muslim majorities. Groups linked to Islamic State and
8 | Persecuted and Forgotten?
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