The Runga of Central African Republic

The Runga of Central African Republic, numbering approximately 41,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are described as a Nilo-Saharan people split between Chadian Arabic-speaking Runga and Aiki-speaking Runga-Aiki communities in northern Central African Republic and Chad, largely Muslim and drawn recently into factional violence within the Ex-Seleka FPRC militia They are an Indigenous people, with Runga as their ethnic/kinship group and are in the Ouaddai-Fur people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. They mostly adhere to Folk Islam and Runga is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Runga

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Central African Republic
People Cluster: Ouaddai-Fur
Primary Language(s): Runga (rou)
Primary Religion(s): Folk Islam
Population: 41,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG012922
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Runga of Central African Republic

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Folk Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

90%
%
Folk Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Runga
Language Family: Maban

100%
%
Runga Speakers

Media Resources in Runga:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Runga:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Runga bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Runga are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Runga:
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

Pray specifically for the Runga of Central African Republic

Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.
readIsaiah 45:24

Pray that those who are weary and burdened by their own righteousness will find rest in the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ alone.

If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
readPsalm 139:8

Pray that the lost will recognize God's presence with them wherever they go, put their faith in Christ, and seek to live in a way that honors and glorifies Him.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.
readPsalm 130:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will wait on the Lord and have patience and trust, knowing His ways and His timing are always perfect.

Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
readLuke 10:3

Ask God to raise up and send humble believers who will depend on Him as they go out like lambs among wolves to share the good news with those who need to hear it.

Runga Across Countries (ROP3 - 108443) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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