The Bari of Congo, Democratic Republic of the

The Bari of Congo, Democratic Republic of the, numbering approximately 34,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Nilotic indigenous people of the wider Bari (Karo) ethnic group, descended from communities centered in South Sudan whose homeland and cultural territory extend into northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. They mostly adhere to Roman Catholicism and Bari is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Bari

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of the
People Cluster: Nilotic
Primary Language(s): Bari (bfa)
Primary Religion(s): Roman Catholicism
Population: 34,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG039284
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Bari of Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Roman Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

92%
%
Roman Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Bari
Language Family: Nilotic

100%
%
Bari Speakers

Media Resources in Bari:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Bari:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
1979 Bible Society of South Sudan✓✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Bari bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Bari 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 Bari:
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 Bari of Congo, Democratic Republic of the

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
readProverbs 8:17

As many search for hope, pray they will discover materials that will lead them to Jesus and explain the gospel in a way they will resonate with.

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
readRomans 9:16

Pray that the merciful God who is at work in people's hearts will advance His gospel among them.

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
readHebrews 10:25

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will not neglect meeting together but encourage one another as they see the Day approaching.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
readJohn 1:12

Pray that believers will have the opportunity to clearly share the good news with the lost here, so that all people can be invited to trust in Jesus and become children of God.

Bari Across Countries (ROP3 - 101283) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

4 people groups

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

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