People group profile · PG011532
The Saho of Eritrea
The Saho of Eritrea, numbering about 171,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an ethnic group inhabiting the mountainous Irobland, primarily in northeastern Tigray, Ethiopia, with a smaller population across the Eritrean border.
They are an indigenous people in the Afar-Saho people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Saho.
Fast facts
- Country
- Eritrea
- Population
- 171,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Afar-Saho
- Primary language
- Saho (ssy)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Debub, Northern Red Sea, and Southern Red Sea regions
Where they live
Gospel status
The Saho are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Saho
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
78% adherents
Primary language
Saho · Afro-Asiatic family
90% speak Saho
Gospel resources in Saho
- Bible available, published -
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Saho
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Saho in other countries
The same people is also reported in 1 other country.
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