Eritrea

Introduction 

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.

The Church

Evangelical churches are highly persecuted and must meet secretly. The government actively seeks to infiltrate these underground churches and imprison their leaders. Over the past 16 years, hundreds of Christians have been imprisoned because of their faith. Missionaries, are no longer welcome in Eritrea. Since 2002, almost all foreign aid workers, Christian or otherwise, have been expelled or forced to leave. The few that remain, along with the national workers, keep well under the radar and are confined in their activities. Pray for those serving on the ground and for the local church to rise. 

Prayer Points

• - Pray for the government of the nation
• - Pray for the growth of the Eritrean church even among persecution
• - Pray For the release of over 3,000 imprisoned and tortured believers and the protection of young pastors preaching God's word.
• - For the safety of those serving on the ground

For more prayer points about Eritrea visit our Prayer Board today.