Algerian Tuareg in Algeria


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Tuareg are descended from Berbers in the region that is now Libya, and also from ancient Saharan peoples. Following the independence of African countries in the 1960s, Tuareg territory was artificially divided into modern nations: Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Burkina Faso. The Tuareg adopted camel nomadism, along with its distinctive form of social organization, from camel-herding Arabs about two thousand years ago. Early in their history, Algerian Tuareg people were involved in slave trading. Those who were not used as slaves were assimilated into Tuareg society. This is one of the reasons they are sometimes despised by other people groups and given the derisive name, "Tuareg." These tough people are considered troublemakers, sometimes for good reason, and sometimes out of prejudice.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Camels are the center of Tuareg economic activity and lifestyle. They provide milk, meat, hair for textiles and clothing, as well as muscle for moving equipment and heavy loads. This has been the national routine for 2,000 years now since the camel was introduced by the Arabs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Algerian Tuaregs are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will. In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

Algerian Tuareg people have few if any chances to hear and respond to the life-changing gospel. Someone will have to go to them and remain with them through any trouble that can come their way.


Prayer Points

Pray for adequate educational and medical facilities for the Algerian Tuaregs. Pray for spiritual hunger and discernment for these Sunni Muslims. Pray for the Lord to thrust out Holy Spirit empowered servants to the Algerian Tuaregs. Pray for a movement to Christ among the Algerian Tuaregs this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Tuareg, Algerian in Algeria.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tuareg, Algerian
People Name in Country Tuareg, Algerian
Natural Name Algerian Tuareg
Pronunciation al-JEER-ee-uhn TWA-reg
Alternate Names Algerian Saharan Spoken; Arabic, Algerian Saharan Spoken; Arabized Tuareg; Arab-Speaking; Aruat; Asben Tuareg; Chaamba Bedouin; Laguat Bedouin; Nail Bedouin; Shaanba; Tamanrasset Tuareg; Tuareg Arab-Speaking; Uled Nail
Population this Country 77,000
Population all Countries 138,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 15226
ROP3 Code 109776
ROP25 Code 308321
ROP25 Name Tuareg
Country Algeria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Adrar, Béchar, Biskra, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, Ghardaïa, Illizi, Laghouat, Naama, Ouargla, Tamanrasset, and Tindouf provinces; Morocco border along Atlas mountains, northeast to Médéa, south of Algiers, southeast to Righ Wadi, south as far as plateau du Tademait.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Algeria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Adrar, Béchar, Biskra, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, Ghardaïa, Illizi, Laghouat, Naama, Ouargla, Tamanrasset, and Tindouf provinces; Morocco border along Atlas mountains, northeast to Médéa, south of Algiers, southeast to Righ Wadi, south as far as plateau du Tademait..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Tuareg, Algerian in Algeria Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.99 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Algerian Saharan (77,000 speakers)
Language Code aao   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Algerian Saharan (77,000 speakers)
Language Code aao   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Algerian Saharan

Primary Language:  Arabic, Algerian Saharan

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1992)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Arabic Bible Online Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Arabic, Algerian Saharan Spoken Jesus Film Project
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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