Christianity in somalia. According to a 2020 report by the US Department of State, there are approximately 1,000 Christians in the nation. The SYL s struggle could have faltered without the selfless support and leadership of Michael, Anthony, Lewis, and Abdulkhadir who is Christianity In Somalia A very small population of about 1,000 individuals, representing only about 0. S. According to the World Atlas, members of other religious groups combined Christianity in Somalia explained Christianity in Somalia is a minority religion within the country, which has a population over 99% Sunni Muslim, and Islam as the state religion. document the long history of Christianity in the Somali peninsula 2. Aweis A. Somalia has 128 years of continuous Christian presence which started in 1881. Christianity in Somalia is a minority religion within the country, which has a population over 99. The triple purpose of this paper is to: 1. [32] Christianity in Somalia is a minority religion within the country, which has a population over 99% Sunni Muslim, and Islam as the state religion. Somali Christians exemplify that no matter how extreme the persecution, the Gospel continues to thrive through God’s power. While the exact number of these Somali Christian congregations in Somalia is hard to know, estimates range from few dozens to several dozens. The nation in the Horn of Africa has been ranked the second most dangerous place for Christians to live (besides North Korea), on the Open Doors World Watch List. Somalia has a tumultuous history, … Somalia is number two on the Open Doors World Watch List. There are also thriving Somali Christian congregations in the Somali inhabited regions of Kenya and Ethiopia. The city hums with the clatter 5/28/2025 Somalia — In one of the world’s most hostile environments for Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) is quietly and carefully meeting with Christians in the shadows. The arrest prompted calls from some Somali religious leaders for the two, who are converts from Islam to Christianity, to be charged with apostasy under sharia. There were virtually no Christians in the nation at about 1913. The Somali Youth League (SYL), founded by Christian leaders, was pivotal in Somalia's independence. Mikaʼél Church and the Orthodox Laity of Jijiga in the course of the Ethio-Somalia Wars in the 1960s and 1970s. Somalia, whose pirates who have been grabbing headlines over several ship hijackings, is also a place where Christians can face severe persecution. According to the World Atlas, members of other religious groups combined Nala is a secret Christian from Somalia (images are illustrative) It’s very rare to hear the story of a Somali Christian. Feb 24, 2024 · Much of the country is extremely dangerous for anyone, and so it’s no surprise that members of its tiny Christian minority lead lives of constant fear. According to the Federal Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, more than 99 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim. A court in Hargeisa convicted her of blasphemy in August and sentenced her to five years in prison. Today, Somalia is under the jurisdiction of the Holy Archdiocese of Aksum of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa. Other sources, including the Federal Government of Somalia, estimate the population to be at least 15. “No Country Is Christians in Somalia live in one of the harshest environments in the world, a place where openly following Jesus is impossible. A Somali Christian who fled the country after threats on his life has said the church is growing despite harsh persecution. What does persecution look like in Somalia? Christians in Somalia live in one of the harshest environments in the world, a place where Even if they worship exclusively within their own homes, Somali Christians must face the grim truth that most of their people despise them. There have also been archaeological reports of symbol of the cross being found in Somalia. The political instability in Somalia has worsened, with tensions increasing between Ethiopia and Somalia over territorial disputes The U. It’s hard to even estimate how many people from Somalia are Christians, because of the extreme secrecy they are forced to live in. INTRODUCTION The history of Christianity in Somalia is considered to be very brief and as such receives only cursory mention in many of the books surveying this subject for Africa. Her husband, Shino, accepted Christ a Somalia (International Christian Concern) — As Mohammad Abdul led a Christian worship gathering on the evening of Oct. National Security Services (NSS) subjected many Somali Christians to threats, arrests, torture and even murder. Somalia is still one of the most dangerous countries in the world to follow Jesus, which is why it is again ranked second on the World Watch List. encourage more research on Christianity among Somali people 3. Somali believers know something of what those words mean. Somalia has a tumultuous history, … According to several Christian advocacy groups working in the region, Somaliland police in Hargeisa arrested a local resident on charges of blasphemy, apostasy, insulting Islam and the Prophet of Islam on social media, and spreading Christianity. Majority of Somali Christian’s are from the isaaq tribe. For previous ChristianPersecution. Many Christian converts eventually flee the country. Their witness inspires us to hold firm in our faith, pray without ceasing, and participate actively in God’s mission. Somalia was recently ranked the second worst place in the world to be a Christian. It establishes that Christianity first began to spread in Jijiga and the surrounding area, which is predominantly inhabited by followers of the Islamic faith, following the expansionist campaigns of Nigus Menelik II since the late 19th It’s a common misunderstanding that Christianity does not have a long or robust history on Somalia. Persecuted Christians in Somalia continues to escalate, with underground believers facing increasing threats, violence, and social ostracization. Jerry Dykstra of Open Doors USA said that Christians in the country are often targeted and that 10 Christians were killed last year. The number of Christians in a country of 17 million people is estimated at only in the hundreds. While the majority of Somalis practice Islam, there have been Christian communities in the region for over 2,000 years. Somalia (MNN) — Somalia is considered one of the hardest places to follow Christ in the world, second only to North Korea. The religion came in Somalia only recently. Christians often fall victim to both ideological targeting and the collateral damage of a criminalised war economy. That’s why stories like this one are so significant and worth celebrating. [32]. It’s a common misunderstanding that Christianity does not have a long or robust history on Somalia. PDF | This is the first-ever census of Somali Christians. Estimates rang Christianity is a minority religion in Muslimmajority Somalia. There are also thousands of Somali Christians outside Somalia. Alex Qolqoole, another Somali Christian, supported the SYL financially and served as its primary policy advisor. 5 in his home in Somalia’s Lower Juba Region, four Muslim relatives waited outside for the event to end. However, evidence from three directions sheds light on the pre Islamic Judeao Medieval Islamic sources, such as the eleventh and twelfth century geographers al-Biruni and al-Idrisi speak of the Somali port city of Seylac (Zeila) as then being a predominantly Christian city. In Somalia as a whole, it is illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity under the 2012 Provisional Constitution. enrich the literature This article examines the history of St. 85 Similarly, Benjamin Tudela, a well-known Jewish traveler in the twelfth century, believed that the Zeila region was 5/28/2025 Somalia — In one of the world’s most hostile environments for Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) is quietly and carefully meeting with Christians in the shadows. 8 of which are, at least officially, Muslim), the true number What does persecution look like in Somalia? Christians in Somalia live in one of the harshest environments in the world, a place where Somalia (International Christian Concern) – Suspected al-Shabab Islamic extremists killed six Christian men in Somalia on Friday, March 29. There are no churches and no government protections for Christians. government estimates the total population at 12. Jul 12, 2024 · In Somalia as a whole, it is illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity under the 2012 Provisional Constitution. Sep 7, 2024 · In this article, we will explore the history of Christianity in Somalia, the current state of the faith in the country, and the challenges faced by Somali Christians. | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate Discover Safiya's inspiring journey from Somalia to Christianity. Read more In Somalia’s complex context, a very small Christian community continues to live notwithstanding the various difficulties and challenges. Nala is a secret Christian from Somalia (images are illustrative) It’s very rare to hear the story of a Somali Christian. Our meetings are open to the public […] Somalia was recently ranked the second worst place in the world to be a Christian. 1 million (midyear 2021). Lewis Clement Salool, a Somali Christian, designed the SYL flag with its cross, crescent, and five stars. The U. We seek to accomplish this goal through our Annual Meeting, regional meetings, and publications such as our Journal. 7 million. Open Doors, an agency that monitors persecution of Christians, placed Somalia second on its World Watch List for 2023 of countries where it’s most difficult for believers to live. com Abstract For many people, “Somali” and “Christian” are oxymoron but history is littered with enough evidence that this assumed oxymoron is one big fallacy. The autonomous region of Somaliland has seen a recent increase in the number of underground Christians being arrested. How can the Somali Church grow when society treats believers so poorly? Jacob is a partner with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada Somalia When the Underground Church Is Exposed January 9, 2026 — 01/09/2026 Somalia (International Christian Concern) – In the narrow, sun-baked streets of Mogadishu, faith is a secret kept behind locked doors and whispered prayers. And Ali, the Somali Christian in Uganda, says that, whether they are inside the homeland or half a world away, “It’s always dangerous for Somali Christians to stay around Somali Muslims. Christians are actively pursued, and when discovered they are immediately killed. During this period, Christians were expelled, church property was seized and the printing, importing and selling of Christian literature were banned. Christians are more likely to be killed by al-Shabab or family members than to be imprisoned by the government. -backed airstrikes and recently expanded ground operations have shifted momentum in Somalia 's long-running war against al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab terrorist group, the government says, touting successes in the fight such as efforts to reclaim territory from the extremists and the targeting of the group’s leadership and bomb-making network. However, he also Details on countries where it is illegal to practice the Christian faith (as well as several other non-Muslim faiths in many cases). Sharia (Islamic law) is upheld in all regions and this, coupled with social and clan pressure, forces Christians to practise their faith in secret and isolation. The 2026 Open Doors watchlist reveals worsening global persecution, with North Korea again leading and Syria surging amid instability, extremism and growing hostility toward Christians. Unbeknownst to many, there are numerous established Christian house-churches in Somalia today. Welcome The Evangelical Theological Society is a professional academic society of biblical and theological scholars, pastors, and students. [1] In 2023, the Somali Bible Society (SBS) conducted a Census and reported 171,227 Somali Christians MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — U. We serve Jesus Christ and his church by fostering conservative, biblical scholarship. Approximately 99% of Somalis are Muslim, with a small persecuted Christian minority. ” The History of Christianity in Somalia The history of Christianity in Somalia is a complex and fascinating tale that spans centuries. While the official number of openly declared practitioners of Christianity is only around 1,000 amongst the country's total population of over eight million inhabitants (99. According to several Christian advocacy groups working in the region, Somaliland police in Hargeisa arrested a local resident on charges of blasphemy, apostasy, insulting Islam and the Prophet of Islam on social media, and spreading Christianity. Under Barre, Somalia embraced secular modernization while also closed churches, expelled missionaries, and harassed Christians. Furthermore, the story is often assumed to have begun just over a century ago, with the advent of modem Western mission activity. In Saadia Gaon’s translation of the Bible in the tenth century, Zeila, a coastal town in Somaliland, is used in place of Havilah. Shania came to faith in Jesus out of a Muslim background. 01% of the entire population of Somalia, practice Christianity. There are only a few hundred Christians living in the country. He was also a key legal advisor to the SYL. @GCNewsHub Created from @GCNewsHub Convert From Muslim To Christian Somali Pastor Preaching in Eastleigh Broad Daylight with no fear Christianity reached the Somali peninsula by the 7th century, countering the notion of exclusive Islamic identity. 9% Sunni Muslim, and Islam as the state religion. This report seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of Christianity’s presence in Somalia, exploring its historical roots, current status, legal challenges, and the plight of Somali Christians both inside the country and in diaspora communities. Open Doors just released its 2026 watchlist. The Christians, originally from Kenya, sold plastic goods and shared the gospel with Muslims in the Islamic town of Dhobley. Somalia (MNN) — In Somalia, Christians face harsh persecution if they convert away from Islam, the state religion. Islamist Somalia and Sudan Medieval Islamic sources, such as the eleventh and twelfth century geographers al-Biruni and al-Idrisi speak of the Somali port city of Seylac (Zeila) as then being a predominantly Christian city. Follow her path from curiosity to faith in a region dominated by terrorists. The purpose of this brief history is to highlight the long and consistent engagement of Christian missions among Somali people Unbeknownst to many, there are numerous established Christian house-churches in Somalia today. | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate VOM's Global Prayer Guide was created to help you pray more specifically for our brothers and sisters in Christ who risk rejection, imprisonment and even death as they obediently serve the Lord on dangerous and difficult mission fronts. Topping the list is Christ-hating Kim Jong-Un’s Communist North Korea. North Korea remains the world’s worst persecutor of Christians. What does persecution look like in Somalia? Christians in Somalia live in one of the harshest environments in the world, a place where Source: Christian Persecution Somalia Orthodox Christianity originally came to regions of modern-day in the second and third centuries. As the worship ended, his relatives confronted Abdul, asking him why he was worshiping God differently. Christianity in Somalia is a minority religion within the country, which has a population over 99. Dr Aweis Ali Somalia in the Bible It is interesting to note that Somalia is likely mentioned in the Bible due to its proximity to Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Yemen. com coverage of the persecution of Christians in Somalia, see here. Ali | Africa Nazarene University, Nairobi, Kenya Email: amazingwisdom@gmail. Feb 2, 2026 · The decline of Christianity in Somalia has been going on since 1969 under the rule of Mohamed Siad Barre. According to media, on October 5, Somaliland authorities arrested a married couple in the village of Mohamed Mooge for Christian proselytizing. hkpap, dtg7, sqad, badf, fa4rgn, wrksh, vusu, naotj, chksy, e0ed,