Dangerous Journey

The north of Mali and increasingly the central part of the country are in the hands of the jihadists. The Christian population is also increasingly suffering from massive persecution. People are fleeing to the larger cities and the south, having left behind all their belongings.

In June 2023 and February 2024, we gave the most affected families food for several months and a small amount of money. The second phase will now involve setting up two economic cooperatives in the still safe city of Koro in central Mali and in the south of the country. These cooperatives, which are strongly focused on agriculture, will enable the uprooted Christians to rebuild a self-determined and dignified life for themselves and their families. Our local partner and head of ACP Nehemia Mali recently traveled to central Mali to coordinate our aid campaign for Christian internally displaced people.

The journey from the south to the centre of the country is dangerous because terrorists carry out daily attacks on buses and checkpoints. Our partner writes to our project manager: "I passed through the checkpoints on Friday and Sunday. Shortly after my return journey on Sunday, terrorists attacked one of the checkpoints and killed the officials who had previously inspected my vehicle."

We thank God that our partner has also completed the 700-kilometer journey back and has now arrived safely in the capital Bamako in the south of the country.