Somalia

During the reporting period, the situation in Somalia became worse. Ethiopian forces  left the country in January 2009 and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad of the Djibouti-based Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) opposition was sworn in as president by the Parliament of the Transitional Government. In April 2009 Parliament voted unanimously to institute Islamic law, hoping to strengthen popular support for the government and siphon it away from the Islamist militias fighting an insurgency here. These militias (al-Shabaab and rival Hizbul Islam) control most of southern Somalia and fight Sheikh Ahmad and his government situated in the capital Mogadishu. Christians are monitored by the government and the Islamic militias. Extremist Al- Shabaab is even hunting for Christians, and we received reports of at least 11 Christians killed for their faith; several others had to flee, were kidnapped, arrested or physically harmed.

The Transitional Federal Charter provides for religious freedom, but in practice this right is little respected, because the Charter also establishes Islam as the national religion and the constitution states that laws cannot contradict Islam. Most Christians live in southern Somalia. They are small in number, heavily persecuted and practice their faith in secret, living under extremely dangerous conditions. There are an additional few Christians in Puntland and Somaliland. Other Somali Christians live as refugees in neighbouring countries.

January 2010

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