Western Sahara is a North African country. The former Spanish colony is an illegally occupied territory by Morocco. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), led by the Polisario Front leads the government in exile. The Sahrawi culture is deeply tied to desert life, with rich traditions of poetry, oral storytelling, and hospitality. However, political turmoil, famine, and displacement in refugee camps have shaped the region’s recent history.

Christianity in Western Sahara remains extremely limited, often overshadowed by the dominant Islamic culture and suppressed by authorities. Early Christian presence was tied mainly to Spanish missionaries and Catholic institutions during colonial times. Some Christian leaders—missionaries, priests, and humanitarian workers—entered the region to serve the marginalized, plant seeds of faith, and provide aid. Yet Christianity never gained an open foothold due to persecution, political hostility, and cultural resistance.

For Sahrawi Christians today, life is tough. The Polisario Front has a poor record in dealing with minorities. They openly restrict freedoms, leaving Sahrawi Christian Believers highly vulnerable. The famine and economic collapse further deepen their struggles, forcing youth to choose between survival and holding onto their faith.

The Sahrawi Church is under threat not only from external persecution but also from internal division, fear, and lack of unity. To prevent the extinction of Christianity in Western Sahara, believers must return to the biblical model of fellowship, perseverance under trials, and faithful witness. They must embody courage like the early Church, standing firm in Christ while caring for each other and the wider community.