Salat Sekondo Mberwa, a Somali Christian who fled to a refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya in 2005 after Muslims murdered a Christian relative, was shot by Muslims on November 26, according to a December 10 report from Compass Direct. At approximately 6:00 p.m., the Muslims broke into Mberwa's residence in the camp and shot him in the shoulder as he tried to escape out a window. The assailants left him for dead. He was later discovered by his family and is recovering in Dadaab. Mberwa faced a similar attack on October 13 when five Muslim youths threatened him and forcibly entered his residence. When Mberwa and his son fought off the assailants, Mberwa was arrested and detained in the relief camp's police cell.
Pray for a speedy recovery for Mberwa. Ask God to protect the Mberwa family as they face opposition. Pray that Somali Christians forced to flee their country will continue to rely on the Lord to meet their needs.
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.
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.