Mahamid in Chad

Introduction / History

The Mahamids are a Shuwa Arab people who live in Darfur and eastern Chad. In recent years this region has been known for brutal conflict between farmers and herdsmen, cattle herdsmen and camel herdsmen, and to a lesser degree, between Christians and Muslims. Most of the conflict is actually about economic issues, not religious ones

Where Are they Located?

The Mahamid people live in a land that straddles Chad and Niger.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Mahamid people are camel herders who have conflicts with settle people groups who farm. Farms and nomadic herders to not mix very well; they use the same land. The conflicts usually involve water, which is scarce and necessary for everyone. The Mahamid people have been known to form militias that attack settled people as a form of terrorism, in hopes that they will move. At this point in time, it seems that violence and strife are the lot of the Mahamid people.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Mahamid people are solidly Muslim, and there are no Christian believers among them. They are both unreached and unengaged, meaning that there are no believers or missionaries among them.

What Are Their Needs?

The Mahamid people need adequate water for their herds, and the "water of life" for their spiritual lives. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, these people will continue fighting and killing others, often innocent women and children.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to reveal Himself to Mahamid leaders in such a way that they will know that they must follow His ways if they are going to be blessed in this life and the life to come.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead the Mahamid people out of darkness into the light of Christ.
Pray for a vibrant discipleship movement to emerge among this people group that will show the world that when the Holy Spirit acts, lives and entire people groups can be transformed.
Pray for workers to go to the Mahamid people with the gospel.

Text Source:   Keith Carey