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Number 7 on Open Doors' "World Watch List," after North Korea, Iraq, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia is considered a "Failed State," with a 20-year Civil War still underway and Islamist rebels holding positions in government. An estimated 300,000-500,000 were killed in the war. At it's height, some 800,000 Somalians were refugees in other countries, and 2 million were displaced within the country.
It is a nation of extreme poverty, human rights abuses, corruption, conflict and terrorism.
There was a drought in the southern part of the country in the summer of 2011. It is possible that the widely-publicized famine of late summer 2011 was an attempt by the militant Islamic group Al-Shabbab to raise funds.
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Hassan Sheikh Mohammad, President of Somalia 2012-2017, 2022-present.
Hamza Abdi Barre, Prime Minister of Somalia since 2022.
Christian ministries operating
There are no official Christian churches. Christian graves are regularly looted, and calling someone a Christian is a threatening epithet.
The true number of Christian believers is unknown, since converts secretly practice their faith.
In 2009, four Christian aid workers working to help orphans in the country were beheaded when they refused to convert to Islam.
There is a posture of religious freedom, yet conversion from Islam is illegal, government leaders are constitutionally required to be Muslim, and any behavior deemed divisive or "un-Islamic" is prohibited. Source
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Healthcare was socialized by a former Socialist regime. At the beginning of the civil war, (1986) the healthcare system failed. It has been replaced by informal (and much-improved) providers. Life expectancy is rising (from a low of 47 years) and infant and maternal mortality is falling. Because of the prevalence of Islam, HIV is the lowest in all of Africa, but FGM is highest. (98%)
Life expectancy in Somalia is about 55 years, and infant mortality is about 74 per thousand.
Somalia is considered a failed state. It has been embroiled in a civil war since 1985. There are three autonomous regions, (Somaliland, Puntland, and Galmudug) with their own presidents and provisional governments, which are safer and more stable than the central government. Sharia Law is the country's official judicial system, and a group of Islamist rebels, has representation in the government. Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization, is active in the rebellion. Transparency International ranked Somalia in last place of all countries in the world for corruption.
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GMO's Stats on Somalia
In 2024, Global Media Outreach registered 95,103 gospel visits, 9,600 explorer visits, 39,715 indicated decisions and 4,913 discipleship visits. We have no Online Missionaries living in Somalia.
"I'm want to be a مؤمنة [believer]" - anonymous, Somalia
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Member Prayer Requests/Praise Report from last week
Frank - for John, comfort
Kim - for Mom, Donna
Thami - for nephew Sam, club foot & muscular weakening condition keeps him in pain and in a wheelchair
Mike - Emily's wedding (4/12/25)
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