Christians in African nations are facing a significant increase in persecution, according to Open Doors USA.

The organization recently released its annual watch list of the world's worst offenders of religious persecution.

Mali jumped from unranked to number seven on the list. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Niger also joined the list. Ethiopia climbed from number 38 to 15.

What is behind the increase in persecution? Ron Boyd-MacMillan, chief strategy officer for Open Doors International, explains this and more, on CBN Newswatch, Jan. 8.

Meanwhile, North Korea remains the number one persecutor of Christians for 11 year in a row.

It is followed by Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. Open Doors also said "extreme Islam poses the largest threat for Christians," in those countries.

The rest of the top 10 is composed of Uzbekistan (7), Yemen (8) and Iraq (9). Laos was the lone country to drop from the top 10 list, falling to No. 12 from No. 10.