Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti

Christianity in Ethiopia dates back to the fourth century AD and spread from the royal court to the people, giving the nation a unique sense of identity through the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC). Missionary efforts, particularly during the reigns of Zara Yacob and Menelik II, expanded Christianity alongside territorial expansion, although linguistic diversity posed a challenge. Evangelical Christianity gained traction in Ethiopia, especially after Emperor Haile Selassie I’s reforms and the translation of the Bible into Amharic. Eritrea shares a similar Christian heritage with Ethiopia, while Somalia has a very small Christian population facing persecution from Islamic radical groups. Djibouti’s Christian population is higher than Somalia’s, mainly due to the presence of expatriates, with religious freedom guaranteed but evangelism restricted.