Christianity in Somalia
Christianity in Somalia is a story of yet another struggle of Christianity in a Muslim-majority country. It features #2 on the Open Doors World Watch List in 2024. [1]
Population of Christians
Christianity is a minority religion in Muslim-majority Somalia. A report by the Somali Bible Society in 2023 estimated a population of around 180,000 Christian practitioners in Somalia.[2]
What does persecution look like in Somalia?
"The dangers of being a Christian in Somalia are extreme. Most, if not all, are converts from Muslim backgrounds, making them a high-value target for al-Shabab, a militant group that has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country. If discovered, believers could be killed on the spot.
Somali society is overwhelmingly conservative, and leaving Islam is regarded in many places as a betrayal of the Somali culture and clan. Christian converts face intense pressure from their family and local community, which can lead to harassment, intimidation and even death. Even being suspected of converting from Islam to Christianity can lead to life-threatening danger." [3]