Christianity in Somaliland

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Christianity in Somaliland is a small minority in numbers ranging from 100 to 200 Christians;[1] where Somaliland has very few Christians, consisting of a small number of locals who are clandestinely committed to Christianity and expatriates who practice their religion openly.[2] The country's Christians are foreigners.[2] The Christian demographics are made up of United Nations workers or other humanitarian agencies with bases in Hargeisa. [2] The church and its institutions such as Caritas International also work in relief and charitable work, and also run programs such as rehabilitation of schools and hospitals, food aid, and assistance to poor children.[citation needed]

History[]

In the ancient city of Mundus, located near Heis, archaeologists have found evidences of Christian worship in the fifth century. Excavations here have yielded pottery and sherds of Roman glassware with Christian symbols from a time between the 1st and 5th centuries. Among these artefacts is high-quality millefiori glass; it features red flower disks superimposed on a green background.[3]

However, prior to Islam, Christianity had no foothold in Somaliland until after the Colonial Era, when Somali women and children were stolen and forced to become Christian.

British Somaliland[]

Main article: Catholic Church in Somaliland
Roman Catholic church closed in 2017, Hargeisa, Somaliland

In 1913, during the early period of the colonial era, there were practically no Christians in Somaliland, with about 100 to 200 adherents coming from schools and orphanages affiliated with the Catholic missions in the Protectorate of British Somaliland.[4] The small number of Christians in the region today comes mostly from similar Catholic institutions in Aden, Djibouti and Berbera.[5]

Somaliland is located within the bishopric area in the Horn of Africa and under the administration of the Anglican diocese in Egypt. However, there are no current Anglican communities in the region.[6] However, since 1990 no bishop has been appointed from Mogadishu, and currently the bishop of Djibouti serves the diocese as an apostolic official.[7] Adventist Mission indicates that there are no members in Somaliland.[8][9]

Persecution by Muslims[]

In 2017, reports indicated that the only Catholic Church in Somaliland was closed days after it was reopened due to "public pressure".[10] The reopening ceremony of the Church of Saint Antonio of Lisbon was held on the 29 July in the presence of expatriates and ministers.[10] It is one of a number of churches that were built 70 years ago during British rule.[10] The church is located in the Shaab district in the capital of the region, Hargeisa, and it was closed for three decades.[10] A few days after the opening, Minister Khalil Abdullah Ahmad made a statement affirming that the church is not "new", with Khalil Abdullah Ahmad asserting that Islamic law allows foreigners to work in Somaliland and "practice their religious rituals in private".[10] and added, "Contradictory to this. According to recent reports, there is no new church in Hargeisa, and “our government will not allow any new church to be built in Somaliland."[10] said Bishop Giorgio Bertin, the Apostolic Vicar of Mogadishu and Bishop of Djibouti. The church was closed due to the danger Christians face in the Muslim-majority country.[10]

Bibliography[]

  • Tripodi, Paolo. The Colonial Legacy in Somalia. St. Martin's Press. New York, 1999.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "World Christian Encyclopedia (2nd Edition), Volume 1, p. & Nbsp
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Somaliland: Local and Expatriate Christians Exercise Constitutional Right to Freedom of Belief Archived 26 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Meyer, Carol (1992). Glass from Quseir Al-Qadim and the Indian Ocean Trade, Issue 53. Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. p. 37. ISBN 0918986877.
  4. ^ Charles George Herbermann, The Catholic encyclopedia: an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic church, Volume 14, (Robert Appleton Company: 1913), p. 139.
  5. ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Somaliland" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  6. ^ Webpage of the Episcopal Area of the Horn of Africa Archived 9 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Diocese of Mogadishu, Somalia". GCatholic. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Global Mission's Top 10 Places to Pray for – REGION: NORTH Africa – Somalia". Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Somaliland's only Catholic church closed days after re-opening due to 'public pressures ' Archived 26 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine
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