The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Much of present-day Sughd province was transferred from the Uzbek SSR to the newly formed Tajik SSR in 1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Sughd province. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions from 1992-97. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by the international community since the beginning of the NATO intervention in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development and security assistance, which could create jobs and strengthen stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace. (CIA)

1. The rate of the population increase is pretty high in Tajikistan. Half of the populations are under 20 years old, and one-third of the total population is under 9 years old.

1. Thousands of people have lost their lives the civil war and a million lost their homes or were displaced. Pray that the government would tackle the poverty of over half of the population and maintain peace.

2. 90% of the population are Muslims, but few actually live out an Islamic faith in their lives. Pray that they would have opportunities to discover Jesus.

3. Pray for an immediate end to corruption.