Ethiopia is unique in Africa, in that it was never under colonial rule, other than an occupation by Italy during World War II. The country was ruled by monarchy until the military overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974. After a series of coups, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took control in 1991. While multi-party elections were held, the opposition parties complain of government interference.

Ethiopia is split religiously, with official statistics of thirty-five to forty percent Ethiopian Orthodox, primarily in the north, and forty-five to fifty percent Muslim, primarily in the south.

Evangelicals in Ethiopia, who may account for as much as twenty percent of the population, face severe persecution from both side, particularly Pentecostal and charismatic believers. Young people who convert are expelled from their homes and forced to live on the streets or work as house servants. Evangelical meetings are regularly broken up by mobs who beat and occasionally kill, those gathered.

Church buildings and homes of evangelicals have been destroyed by mobs. In July 2002, the Merawi Full Gospel Church began fencing in their new property, despite numerous threats against them, when a mob attacked. Led by an Orthodox priest, they tore down the fence and then attacked the pastor, Brother Dantew, with an axe. Leaving him injured, they posted guards to prevent anyone from helping him until the next morning, when he died on the way to the hospital.

In northern Ethiopia in particular, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has extensive control, with influence over the authorities, though the influence of Islam is steadily growing.  In September 2005, a bus was stopped by Islamic militants who demanded that all Christians recite the Islamic creed.  When one man refused, he was assassinated. 

In the area surrounding the town of Alaba, there has been a marked increase in persecution. In the village of Besheno, thirty-two believers were expelled, and then guards set at the inroads to ensure that no Christians return. Young people have been killed for their faith in Christ. When VOM personel spoke with the younger brother of one such student, the boy and his friends readily testified that they were prepared to pay any cost to follow Christ.

• Pray for safety for evangelicals in Ethiopia.
• Pray that the authorities will be willing to oppose those who use violence in the name of religion.  
• Pray for Christians facing various hardships as a result of this opposition.