Eritrea

Pray for Africa

Prayer Points

  • For the growth of the Eritrean church even among persecution.
  • For political and religious freedom.
  • For the release of over 3,000 imprisoned and tortured believers.
  • That God will comfort the families who have lost loved ones.
  • For open doors for Christian workers to return to Eritrea.
  • For protection of young pastors preaching God's word.
  • For the establishment of peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

LOCATION
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

POPULATION
5 481 906 ( 2017 est.)

RELIGION

Muslim

Coptic Christian

Roman Catholic

Protestant

INTERNET USERS
71 000 (2017)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
8,6 % (2013 est.)

MISSIONARIES
Sent 140
Received 220

LEAST REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS
10

We Pray...

Father, we praise You for the growth of the Eritrean church even among persecution. We pray that You will preserve Your people in Eritrea and grant them freedom from the strong grasp of political and religious oppression. Lord, we pray for the release of over 3,000 imprisoned and tortured believers. We also pray that You would comfort the bereaved and brokenhearted families who have lost loved ones.

Father, we ask for open doors for Christian workers to return to Eritrea. We pray that you will protect the young pastors preaching Your word in Eritrea and grant them the boldness to continue their work.

We also pray for the establishment of peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

 

State of the Church

The Government severely restricts freedom of religion for groups that it has not registered and infringes upon the independence of some registered groups. The Constitution does allow for religious freedom, however, it has not been implemented. The Government continues to harass members of independent evangelical groups and Pentecostal churches.

The fact that most denominations and ministries are closed down, has prompted the growth of a hard-pressed but growing house church movement.

Despite open persecution, the government continues to support its statement issued in May 2003 that "no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion." Although thousands of Christians are in detention, not one has been charged with a crime or faced trial. While concerns over Christian persecution have been raised at various international forums, there has been little change in the attitude and policy of the one-party government of Eritrea.

Overview

The UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. Isaias Afworki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been highly autocratic and repressive. His government has created a highly militarized society by pursuing an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service, sometimes of indefinite length.

There is still some tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Their has been some evidence of Eritrea supporting armed opposition groups in the region. The areas in the eastern and western lowlands are predominantly Muslim with predominantly Christians in the highlands.

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