God’s Work Among Some of the World’s Most Violent Extremists

Insights From Cole Richards, VOM President, On Sharing the gospel among Islamists in Africa

The following reflection is written by Cole Richards, President of The Voice of the Martyrs. In this insightful passage, he discusses the rise of violent Muslim extremism across Africa and how God is still working across the continent.

The rapid spread of Islamist ideology, oppression and violence in Africa has become one of the most important stories of our time. Millions of our Christian brothers and sisters in Africa have suffered greatly, including tens of thousands who have been driven from their homes while watching their possessions and livelihoods disappear amid the Islamist dream of a global caliphate. The Fulani, an African people group composed largely of migrant herdsmen, have come to be viewed as infamous villains within this larger story. Islamists among them have carried out an extended campaign of kidnapping and butchery across several nations with significant Christian populations.

Armed extremists among the Fulani are indistinguishably mixed with other tribesmen who travel widely, freely and unpredictably across West and Central Africa. While Islamist regimes and more organized terrorist groups have identifiable features (leaders, armies, police, courts, councils, etc.) that help us watch, track and respond to persecution at some level, the threat of radicals among migrant herdsmen is invisible and unpredictable. A group of Fulani seen passing near a village today may simply be herdsmen, while a group seen tomorrow may include militants planning to conduct a house-to-house raid on the village with the intention of kidnapping Christian women and maiming Christian men.

All who follow current world events have now heard of the Fulani people, usually through news reports of atrocities committed by Islamic extremists among them. And if we are not careful, this kind of notoriety may lead to a great victory for the Islamists, who are intentionally trying to define the Fulani with a powerful lie: To be Fulani is to be Muslim. Falsely claiming a nation or people group as being a “Muslim nation” or “Muslim people” is the Islamists’ first step toward domination and control. It is a lie that quickly leads to violence because it includes the idea that all non-Muslims within the nation or people group must be eliminated or oppressed.

All Fulani are not Islamic extremists,  and all Fulani are not Muslims. I cannot tell you what joy it brings me to be able to honor God by bearing witness to the truth in this magazine: God is moving powerfully among the Fulani tribe, which now includes many Christians. While some among the Fulani have carried out unspeakable atrocities, others have faithfully proclaimed Christ and led other Fulani to become our brothers and sisters for eternity.

God is glorified when we share testimonies of other members of His family. So I take great pleasure in correcting the record when I hear that “the Fulani have carried out another attack.” I respond by saying, “Islamists among the Fulani carried out that attack, but let me tell you about our Christian brothers and sisters among the Fulani!” Our dear brother Mahmud (cover photo) and his family (p. 10), along with others in this magazine, are trophies of God’s grace. Our Lord is glorified through their stories and through ours as we serve them.