Mongallese Arabs

The Mongallese Arabs descend from the long process of Arabization that swept across North Africa and the Nile Valley. With the Arab expansion beginning in the seventh century, after the death of Muhammad, many local peoples were displaced or absorbed, and the language, customs and Islam spread through marriage, trade and daily coexistence.

From this encounter came communities that adopted Arabic and Islam but remained tied to the land and to the ways of life of the region. Their recent history intersects with that of a young country still searching for stability.

Life revolves around the herd. Families set up temporary camps, with dome-shaped shelters made of branches covered in grass, and take them down when it is time to look for new pasture. They wear sandals, turbans or cotton caps, and the long tunics called djellabas. Finding enough water for the animals and reaching medical care are among their constant concerns.

The great moments of life are marked by ceremonies: birth, the first haircut, the circumcision of boys, marriage and death. Marriage is the most elaborate celebration. Usually, the couple settles near the husband’s parents, and the extended family is the foundation of mutual care, hospitality and honor.

The Mongallese Arabs are Muslims, and almost all follow Islam. Faith guides life’s ceremonies, family rules and festivals. It is not merely a personal conviction: it is part of what it means to belong to the people.

For this reason, religion and identity walk together. Prayer, fasting and inherited traditions give meaning to daily life in the camp and unite the generations, and the most important moments of life, from birth to mourning, are lived within this shared faith. There is a small Christian minority, but few followers of Jesus live among them, and many have never had the chance to meet someone who will explain the gospel to them clearly and with care.

Portions of Scripture have existed in Juba Arabic since 1983, but there is still no complete New Testament in this language. For a people who live on the move, there are promising paths: audio recordings of Bible teaching, the film on the life of Jesus, videos telling the biblical story and mobile apps. Materials in the variety of Arabic they use every day help the Word sound like the language of the heart.

Being Mongallese and being Muslim go together, and the strong devotion to Islam makes it hard to talk about another faith. The group’s own Arabic dialect also calls for materials and workers who know it. The nomadic life makes lasting contact with any Christian community difficult, and few followers of Jesus live among them. Local residents fear that the herds will spread disease, which limits the friendship and trust needed to talk about faith.

There are very concrete needs: water for the animals, accessible medical care and peace in a region marked by instability. Caring for the health of families would be a visible expression of love for neighbor and would open doors to trust.

There is also a need for faithful witnesses. Few believe in Jesus among them, and there is a lack of people willing to live alongside them, learn their language and walk with them. Christians from South Sudan itself can be awakened to look at these neighbors with friendship and respect.