Although Islamists have been dislodged from territory they previously controlled, the legacy of their 2012 takeover has been a more radicalised society that is even less hospitable to Christians than it was before – especially those who have converted to Christianity from Islam. Despite a 2015 peace deal with the government, Islamists continue to pose a threat to Christians (most of whom live in the south), especially in parts of the country that are not controlled by the state. Several Christian missionaries have been kidnapped for ransom in recent years.
Bomb scare reignites Christian fear in northern Mali
Christians in a city in northern Mali, already forced to hold services in a school classroom because their church was looted and not ready to host meetings, had a bomb scare on Sunday (Jan. 12). Military personnel patrolling the area in Gao on Sunday morning discovered explosives near the school. […]
Mali’s state of emergency lifted ahead of election
The political situation of Mali has been changed by Sunday’s launch of the campaign for its Presidential election (due on July 28th) in which 28 candidates are competing to succeed the current interim President Dioncounda Traoré, who is not taking part. Mr Traoré, who was the head of Parliament, became […]
For a church leader in Mali, relief and anxiety
The liberation of the main cities of Northern Mali has created a great sense of relief and joy in the country, but the task of reconstruction and reconciliation is huge. A month after the French offensive, the Malian and African troops have regained control of the main cities in the […]
Hope in Mali rises with international military intervention
French troops have launched a military operation in Mali, aiming at stopping the advance of Islamists from their bases in the north to the South. The French intervention started on Friday, Jan. 11 with air strikes, and had enabled the Malian troops to regain control of the cental town of […]
Kidnapped Swiss Christian freed amid Mali’s unrest
Separatist Islamist rebels released a Swiss Christian woman kidnapped by a private militia on April 15 amid political turmoil in Timbuktu, Mali, according to a Swiss foreign ministry statement. Armed members of the militant Islamic group Ansar Dine handed Beatrice Stockly to Swiss diplomats on Tuesday (April 24), Reuters reported. […]