People group profile · PG013569
The Soninke of Mali
The Soninke of Mali, numbering about 2,290,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a West African Mnade-speaking ethnic group inhabiting Mali, southern Mauritania, eastern Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea.
They are an indigenous people in the Soninke people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Soninke.
Fast facts
- Country
- Mali
- Population
- 2,290,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Soninke
- Primary language
- Soninke (snk)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
- Location
- Kayes region: Kayes, Nioro, and Yélimané circles; Koulikoro region: Banamba, Kolokani, Koulikoro, and Nara circles; Ségou region: Baraouéli and Ségou circles. 6 principal towns, 163 villages
Where they live
Gospel status
The Soninke are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. 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 Soninke
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Soninke · Mande family
100% speak Soninke
Gospel resources in Soninke
- Bible available, published 2018
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Soninke
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Soninke in other countries
The same people (ROP3 109413) is reported in 6 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soninke | Senegal | 634,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Soninke | Cote d’Ivoire | 240,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Soninke | Gambia | 204,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Soninke | Mauritania | 151,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Soninke | Guinea-Bissau | 11,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Soninke | United States | 5,200 | Engaged yet Unreached |
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.