+3
People cluster
Tuareg
Unreached
0.1%
Evangelicals
Who they are
The Tuareg are a people of the Sahara desert and the dry lands to its south, with about 4 million people. They live mainly in Niger and Mali and also in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Libya. They are a branch of the Berbers, the native peoples of North Africa, who were already living there before the Arabs arrived.
They speak Tamasheq (also called Tamajaq or Tamahaq), a Berber language that has its own script, Tifinagh. They are known for the blue or dark veil the men wear to cover their faces, and the women are held in great respect within the family. For centuries they were nomadic herders, moving with their flocks of camels, goats and sheep, and guiding trade caravans across the desert. Today many live in towns and settlements because of droughts, poverty and armed conflict in the Sahel, the strip of dry land south of the Sahara.
Almost all are Sunni Muslims, but they keep many old customs of the desert, such as poetry, music and hospitality with tea served to visitors. The Tuareg who follow Jesus are very few and live scattered.
What sets the subgroups apart
The language is the same at its base, but each region has its own way of speaking. In Niger, where most of them live, Tamajaq is spoken, and there are groups in the Aïr mountains. In Mali and Burkina Faso, Tamasheq. In southern Algeria, the Tuareg of the Hoggar, a mountain region in the middle of the Sahara, speak Tamahaq. There are also groups who adopted the Arabic language and customs.
The way of life also varies. Some still live as herders who move with their livestock, while others live in cities such as Agadez in Niger, or work far from home, including in France. The Tuareg of Mali and Niger suffer most from the violence and lack of security that have affected the region for years.
Where they are still unreached
9
Countries
3.8M
Population
| Country | Share of the people | Population |
|---|---|---|
Niger
|
53.6%
|
2.058.000 |
Mali
|
29.3%
|
1.124.000 |
Burkina Faso
|
5.1%
|
197.000 |
Algeria
|
4.1%
|
157.000 |
Mauritania
|
3.8%
|
145.000 |
Tunisia
|
1.9%
|
72.000 |
Egypt
|
0.9%
|
36.000 |
France
|
0.7%
|
27.000 |
Libya
|
0.6%
|
24.000 |
The 7 peoples in this cluster
What to pray for
Intercede for this people
May the Tuareg know Jesus as the living water that quenches thirst forever.
For peace in Mali and Niger, where Tuareg families suffer from violence and have to leave their homes.
For the families struck by drought and the loss of their herds, that they would have food, water and provision.
May the Word of God reach the Tuareg in their own language, also in audio, for those who cannot read.
For the Tuareg who follow Jesus, that they would find one another and be strengthened in the faith.
May Christians from neighboring countries serve the Tuareg with love, patience and respect for their culture.