by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Somali Christians remain vulnerable to jihadist violence, as twenty-one people have now died following an attack on August 19 by the al-Shabaab Islamic terror group in Mogadishu, Somalia, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Linked to al-Qaeda, al Shabaab has been conducting Islamic jihad in Somalia and Kenya, targeting Christians as well as terrorizing the civilian population generally.
The most devastating attack in Mogadishu since the June inauguration of the new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the August 19 attack on the Afrik Hotel began with a car bomb and was followed by 30 hours of gunfights between the terrorists and Somali security forces, ICC said. More than 117 people were wounded in the attack.
“Violent attacks by Islamic militants, targeting Christians, remain common in Somalia and have been for more than 25 years,” Open Doors said in a website statement.
“Groups like al-Shabaab operate with seemingly little pushback and control large parts of Somali territory, and they consider Christians ‘high-value’ targets for killing,” Open Doors said.
ICC has called for prayer for the families of the victims of this attack and for the Christian communities in Somalia and Kenya.
Somalia currently ranks third on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2022 of the top 50 countries that are most dangerous for Christians.