PRAY FOR SOMALIA

Somalia is located on the Horn of Africa. Its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains, and highlands. The weather is hot year-round, with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rainfall. 85% of its residents are ethnic Somalis who have historically inhabited the country's north. Ethnic minorities are largely concentrated in the south. About 80% of the population are nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists, who keep goats, sheep, camels and cattle. Over two million people live in the capital and largest city Mogadishu. About 43% of the population lives on less than 1 US dollar a day. The official languages are Somali and Arabic. Almost all Somalis are Muslims.

Somalia is currently number two on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries with the most severe persecution of Christians in the world.
 
For more than 25 years Somalia has been a haven for Islamic militants who constantly target Christians both in Somalia and in neighboring countries. Groups like al-Shabab operate with little pushback and control large parts of Somali territory. The small number of believers in Somalia are largely Christians who have converted from Islam. Christians are viewed as high-value targets by al-Shabab. Even when Christian converts are not targeted by Islamic extremists, they are intensely pressured by their family. Any conversion from Islam is seen as a betrayal to family and community, so even just suspicion of conversion can lead to harassment, intimidation and even murder.