Somalia

Somalia has been on the World Watch List since 1993, and almost always among the top ten countries. In Somalia, Islam was already firmly established before the arrival of Christianity. Somalia’s tribal system - as an informal way of governing Somalia - is very resistant to modern government models and more robust than the formal state structure. Since the downfall of Ziad Barre in 1991, Somalia has become a safe haven for Islamic radicalism. Life for Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) is much more difficult compared to other countries known for persecuting Christians. Christians in Somalia would not last a day in a trial or ever get the chance to be sentenced to a labor camp. A mere suspicion leads to a rush public beheading. This should be seen in connection with the attacks that al-Shabaab has orchestrated against Christians in Kenya.