Mansuur Mohammed (25), a humanitarian aid worker who converted from Islam to Christianity in 2005, was beheaded by Islamists on September 23 in Manyafulka village. According to an October 27 report from Compass Direct, Mohammed and a driver were intercepted by members of the "al Shabab" Islamist militant group. The driver managed to flee the scene but Mohammed was captured. In the afternoon, the militants gathered the villagers by telling them that they were going to prepare a feast for them. Five masked men armed with guns and swords dragged the handcuffed Mohammed in front of the crowd. One militant recited the Quran as he proclaimed Mohammed a "murtid" (an Arabic term for an apostate who leaves Islam) and also claimed that he was a spy for Ethiopian soldiers. The militants, chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great), then beheaded Mohammed and cheered while holding up his severed head in front of the horrified crowd. A video of the murder was later circulated in Somalia and in neighbouring countries in what many see as an effort to instill fear in those contemplating converting from Islam to Christianity.
Mohammed's martyrdom is the latest in a wave of such attacks on Christians in Somalia in recent months. According to International Christian Concern, in mid-September, a 22-year-old convert to Christianity, Ahmadey Osman Nur, was shot by Islamist militants at a wedding ceremony in the town of Afgoye.
Pray for comfort for those who mourn the loss of these Christians. Ask God to give strength and comfort to the people in Manyafulka village and the surrounding area. Pray that those responsible for these dark deeds will come to know the light of Christ's love (Romans 12:14, 21).
Go to the Somalia Country Report to discover more about the persecution of Christians in Somalia.
Ethnicity (%) Somali (85), Bantu and other non-Somali (15)
Religion (%) Islam (99.9), ethnic religions (0.1)
Leader President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (2022)
Government type Federal parliamentary republic
Legal system Mixed legal system of civil law, Islamic law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Somalia
Please join us in praying for our ministry partners who are effectively reaching Somalians through the multiple radio broadcasts, specifically asking God to further strengthen and equip them so they can continue with their vital outreach work. Also, pray that the hearts of those yearning to learn more about the Lord will be greatly encouraged through the broadcast messages. May these spiritual seekers be shielded from all harm, while their lives are being radically transformed by the ongoing work of His Holy Spirit.
Ahmad Diriye, Emir of al-Shabaab Photo: Wikipedia / U.S. State Department
Six Kenyan merchants, all of them professed followers of Jesus, were killed in a border town between Kenya and Somalia on March 29th. The perpetrators of the crime then fled the Somalian town of Dhobley and travelled further into the country. It is believed that those responsible for the attack are members of al-Shabaab, a militant Islamic group based in Somalia.
For years, the nation of Somalia has been in a state of political turmoil caused by rival factions that are fighting for control of the country, including the al-Qaeda affiliated group known as al-Shabaab. While this militant terrorist group frequently conducts indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians in general, it is particularly known to target Christians.
On September 21st, police in the self-declared autonomous region of Somaliland detained a Christian couple. They were described as "apostates and evangelists spreading Christianity." To view a previously published report on the arrest, go to this page.
At an October 5th news conference, police in the self-declared autonomous region of Somaliland announced that a Christian couple had been arrested for being "apostates and evangelists spreading Christianity." On September 21st, the two were taken from their home in Hargeisa where police also found Christian literature in their possession.
Population
