Challenges for Prayer

1 Almost the entire population is Muslim

2 The quiet witness of Christian medical and veterinary workers in the Republic and on Mayotte has won credit and public honour as well as opportunities to share the Lord Jesus with the people

3 Comoran believers have gradually increased in number – mainly on Njazidja and Nzwani (Anjouan). They have suffered periods of harassment and persecution, and are deprived of many social and civil privileges

4 The majority of Christians are Catholic Réunionese, Malagasy and French and some Protestant Malagasy

Departmental Collectivity of Mayotte

Challenges for Prayer

1 The Muslim majority

2 The change in political status in 2000 will result in massive French investment and will challenge traditional values and society

3 The only organized Protestant churches in the Comores are two evangelical groups among the Malagasy on Grand Comore and Mayotte, Assemblies of God on Mayotte, and isolated Christians elsewhere

4 Expatriate workers – pray for their witness on Mayotte and other islands, and for an increase in their number

5 Support ministries for prayer:

a) Bible translation continues in two languages

b) Radio – FEBA broadcasts to the islands 10 hours/week in French and 3 in Swahili

c) The JESUS film has been dubbed in shiMaore

Geography

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Area 1,862 sq.km. Poor agricultural land but rich marine life in the surrounding seas.

Population (2000) 592,749 +2.81%AGR

Capital Moroni 31,187.

Peoples

Comorian 96.7%; Minorities 3.3%.

Literacy 57%. Official languages Arabic, French. Three dialects of Comorian Swahili are widely spoken. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi 1NT 1por.

Economy

Underdeveloped, poor and overpopulated. HDI 0.506; 139^th/174. Public debt 87% of GNP. Income/person $450 (1.2% of USA).

Politics

A one-party state until 1990, when multi-party democratic government was instituted.

Religion

All open witness is forbidden in this Islamic state.

Geography - Departmental Collectivity Of Mayotte

Area 373 sq.km. One larger island Grande Terre and one smaller Petite Terre.

Population (2000) 101,621 +2.46%AGR

Capital Dzaoudzi 7,600.

Peoples - Departmental Collectivity Of Mayotte

Comorian 95.1%. shiMaore 85,000; shiBushi 42,600; Other Comorian 13,000.

Other 4.9%. French 3,000; Malagasy 1,000; Réunionese 200.

Literacy 32%. Official languages French; shiMaore (the local Swahili dialect) and shiBushi (a Malagasy dialect).

Economy - Departmental Collectivity Of Mayotte

Limited natural resources or exportable commodities, yet more prosperous than the rest of the Comores through French aid and military base.

Politics - Departmental Collectivity Of Mayotte

French rule is challenged by the Comoran government, but neither the local people nor the French administration have shown much enthusiasm for change, nor for welcoming back the two rebel islands of the Comores to French rule.

Religion - Departmental Collectivity Of Mayotte

Almost all Comorans, most Africans and some Malagasy are Sunni Muslim, but mosque attendance is low.

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