AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire - Africa

Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)

Home > May 03: Cote d’Ivoire

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May 03: Cote d’Ivoire

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Côte d’Ivoire

Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

Africa

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 322,463 sq km
On the west African coast between Ghana and Liberia. Rainforest in the south and savannah/highlands in the north.
Population: 21,570,746    Annual Growth: 2.31%
Capital: Yamoussoukro
Urbanites: 50.1%
HDI Rank: 163 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 106 (32% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: French, used by a high proportion of the population. Jula is the most widespread indigenous language, used as a trade language in the north and Abidjan    Languages: 93 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Muslim

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	7,256,399	33.64	2.9
Evangelicals	2,256,431	10.5	3.0
Muslim	9,016,572	41.80

Prayercast

Challenges for Prayer

Peoples that are unevangelized and without a major church planting breakthrough abound, especially in the north. The perception that Côte d’Ivoire is reached, because of the popularity of Christianity and presence of missionaries in the south, is a false notion that delays the gospel reaching millions in the north.
a) The Mande and Malinke people clusters of the northwest. The Malinke especially are strongly Muslim and mostly unreached. They include the Jula (CMFI and WorldVenture), Koro (Baptists), Mahou (Norwegian Lutherans), Maninka(3) (SIM, IMB), Ngan, Wassulu, Worodougou (CAPRO, UEESO, WEC, SIM), Jeri Kuo and Ngan. None is more than 1% evangelical, and yet these clusters account for 20% of the country’s population.
b) The Gur people cluster of the north and northeast. Most practice African traditional religions, and none of the following is more than 1% evangelical: Lobi (CAPRO, Free Will Baptists), Koulango/Bouna (CAPRO, Free Will Baptists), Senoufo(5) (WorldVenture), Nafanra, Khisa and Karaboro.
c) Other, primarily foreign African peoples. These include the Soninke, Fulani(2), Hausa, Bozo and Wolof, all of whom have immigrated at some past point from other West African countries.
The large influx of foreigners rapidly reversed with the outbreak of war. They are returning now, but precisely how many have done so is unknown. While their presence in Côte d’Ivoire is the source of much strife, it is also a timely evangelistic opportunity to reach them when they are separated from close tribal ties. Around 70% of the foreign population is Muslim. At their peak, foreigners made up nearly 30% of the country’s total population, but half of that 30% had lived in Côte d’Ivoire for at least one generation.
     For an additional 12 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Côte d’Ivoire.