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19th April 2009 |
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Pray for Somalia Population is over 9.5 million, but a large number of nomads and refugees complicate the population counting. While there are 15 people per sq km, less than 2% of land in Somalia is arable. A large part of the population are nomads and semi-pastoralists who depend on livestock. The Somali population are almost entirely Sunni Muslims. In the 1970s Christianity’s influence was significantly reduced when church run schools were closed and missionaries sent home. Any religion other than Islam is discouraged by the Somali constitution. Pray for the less than 1% of ethnic Somalis who are Christians, that they are able to keep strong in their faith. |
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A new
nation of Somalia was formed in 1969 from the joining of British
Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. A coup in 1969 brought a degree
of stability, albeit by an authoritarian socialist rule. Turmoil
descended in 1991 with the regime’s collapse, bringing factional
fighting and anarchy. The famine and civil war has produced many
refugees and much distress to the population. The 2004 tsunami and
2006 floods also destroyed villages and adversely affected hundreds
of people. Pray for the Somali people, that they may find peace amongst such unrest. Pray also that the separate governments in different regions can find unity and that the civil unrest is brought to a close. |
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