Prayer Points
- For the Word of God to be preached among Mauritanians in their heart language.
- For God’s mercy in the wake of severe drought and a poor economy.
- That God will send rain.
- For Christ’s freedom to be understood by those suffering under the bondage of slavery.
- That Mauritanians living in other West African countries may be evangelized and go back to their own people to preach the Gospel.
- That those who follow Him might be courageous despite the lack of fellowship.
- For godly indigenous leadership and increasing freedom of religion.
LOCATION:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
POPULATION
4 266 448 (2017 est.)
RELIGION
Muslim (official) 100%
INTERNET USERS:
75,000 (2009)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE:
12,8% (2016)
MISSIONARIES:
Sent: 0
Received: 60
LEAST REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS:
15
We Pray...
Lord Jesus, we pray for your word to be preached among Mauritanians in their heart language. We pray for Your mercy in the wake of severe drought and a poor economy that plagues the people. We ask that you will heal their land with Your precious rain, Father.
Lord, we pray for Christ’s freedom to be understood by those suffering under the bondage of slavery. We also pray that the Mauritanians living in other West African countries may be evangelized and that Mauritanian believers, wherever they may be, might increase. We pray that they will go back to their own people and preach the Good News to them in Mauritania.
Lord, we pray for seekers to encounter Jesus, and that any who follow Him might be courageous in the faith. Holy Spirit, please minister to believers despite the lack of fellowship.
Father, we pray for godly indigenous leadership to develop in Mauritania and for increasing freedom of religion, both socially and legally. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
State of the Church
Mauritanians believe they are the most Islamic state on the continent (99%) and that their mission is to spread Islam throughout black Africa. There is an unofficial government requirement that restricts non-Muslims to having worship services only in the few Christian churches. However, religious groups can meet in private homes after they receive official authorization from the authorities. Importing, printing or selling Bibles is banned, as well as any literature that undermines, contradicts or threatens Islam.
There are not many indigenous believers and the workers are few. This small amount of believers (0.25% of the population) needs courage to continue to stand up for their beliefs. The Black Moors and the nomads are among the hardest to reach with the Gospel. In the last year there has been a few accounts of persecution.
Overview
Mauritania received their independence from France in 1960, where after they annexed the southern third of Western Sahara in 1976. They relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerilla front seeking independence for their territory (Western Sahara).
Mauritania is also experiencing ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb. Although government denies it, an estimated 10-20 percent of the Mauritanian population still lives in bondage to slavery.
The constitution and other laws and policies restricted religious freedom and, in practice, the government enforced these restrictions. The 1991 constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and recognizes Islam as the religion of its citizens and the state. The government prohibits the printing and distribution of non-Islamic religious materials and proselytizing by non-Muslims. Almost the entire population practices Sunni Islam. There are very small numbers of non-Muslims, who are almost exclusively foreigners. Roman Catholic and other Christian churches are located in the Capital and other bigger cities.
More Resources:
- National Prayer Network: Pray4Mauritania
- Regional Prayer Initiative: Pray North Africa
- African Prayer Initiative: Pray Africa
Bibliography
- INcontext ministries – http://incontextministries.org/
- CIA World Factbook
- Atlas of Global Christianity – Todd M.Johnson & Kenneth R. Ross (Published by – Edinburgh University Press) (Missionaries and national workers: Africa 2010, page 267)
- Prayercast – http://prayercast.com/
- Unreached people groups – http://www.joshuaproject.net
- The voice of the Martyrs – http://www.persecution.com/
- Jul-Dec, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report – http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010_5/index.htm
- Operation World – http://www.operationworld.org/african-countries