Pray for Somalia

Somalia is located on the eastern “horn” of Africa, jutting out beautifully into the Indian Ocean. Though the nation faces deep political instability, it is rich in culture and tradition. Women wear vibrant, flowing dresses called diracs with matching hijabs that catch the coastal wind, while men often wear a comfortable, sarong-like wrap called a macawiis to stay cool in the heat. Sunni Islam serves as the official religion in Somalia, and the legal system is a unique blend of civil law, Sharia (Islamic law), and traditional clan law known as Xeer. While the federal republic is led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the government struggles to assert its authority outside major cities due to a long-running insurgency by the extremist group al-Shabaab.

Somalia is trapped in a devastating cycle of humanitarian and security crises. Although the nation has one of the highest birth rates in the world, many children won’t make it to their first birthday. Severe summer dust storms, droughts, and rainy season floods can wipe out entire livestock herds overnight. For the 60 percent of Somalis relying on these animals to survive, a single natural disaster can instantly plunge them into extreme poverty. Many families are forced to flee their homes in search of food. Millions more Somalis are displaced because of conflict. Al-Shabaab, an official affiliate of al-Qaeda, has waged a relentless reign of terror across the country for decades. Today, local clans and government forces are launching offensives to liberate territories from this extremist rule, turning innocent families’ homes into active battlegrounds.

There are 22 people groups in Somalia, 20 of which are largely unreached with the Gospel. The vast majority of those living in Somalia are Sunni Muslims and still practice traditions such as female circumcision. Al-Qaeda has vowed to eliminate all Christians in Somalia, leading to the severe persecution and martyrdom of many believers. There are an estimated 90,000 believers in Somalia, who mainly worship in house churches to keep their fellowship a secret. However, as the persecution of Christians heightens, often the boldness of the believers grows, too. Most missionary efforts were forced to stop due to political instability, civil war, and security concerns. Pray that more missionaries would be called to work among these people.