Somalia
Nurse-midwife Edna Adan Ismail, opponent of female genital mutilation, wins Templeton Prize
By Kathryn Post — May 16, 2023
(RNS) — She is the first African woman to receive the prize, which is valued at 1.1 million British pounds (over $1.3 million).
Somalia names former al-Shabab deputy a government minister
By Omar Faruk — August 3, 2022
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Mukhtar Robow was given the post of religious affairs minister, the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Tuesday. Not all Somalis supported his ministerial appointment, with some calling it disrespectful to those who lost loved ones in al-Shabab attacks.
In Somalia, a rare female artist promotes images of peace
By Hassan Barise — October 27, 2021
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia’s decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and a 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most.
In Kenya, faith groups work to resettle youth returning from al-Shabab
By Fredrick Nzwili — July 2, 2021
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — More than 300 such youths who had traveled to Somalia for training as jihadists had been rescued and brought back to the country.
To break Ramadan fast, many Muslims turn to apricot drink with ‘lunar’ name
By Joseph Hammond — May 4, 2021
(RNS) — In the Arab world, an apricot juice drink known as Qamar al-Din, or ‘moon of the religion,’ satisfies the requirements for breaking the daily fast.
Islamist militants fuel Christian persecution in Kenya, faith leaders say
By Fredrick Nzwili — February 8, 2021
(RNS) — Somalia's al-Shabaab militants are trying to export their tyrannical strain of Shariah law, attacking Christians and churches.
Christmas holiday bus attacks in Kenya bring condemnation from Christian and Muslim leaders
By Fredrick Nzwili — December 16, 2020
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Christian and Muslim leaders have stepped up interfaith dialogue in hopes of reining in the bus attacks and other threats to the border region’s small Christian community.
Somali sheikh leads a seven-year campaign to end female genital mutilation
By Doreen Ajiambo — February 27, 2019
MOGADISHU, Somalia (RNS) — With sermons and through local media, Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan has made it his mission to convince parents and girls in his country that FGM is a cultural practice, not a religious one.
Kenyan faith leaders condemn Nairobi attack as al-Shabab takes responsibility
By Fredrick Nzwili — January 16, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Muslim and Christian clerics urged Kenyans to forge ahead together despite the militant Islamist group's attempt to use religion to put a wedge between them.
In northern Kenya, al-Shabab militants target Christian teachers
By Doreen Ajiambo — January 14, 2019
WAJIR, Kenya (RNS) — Non-Muslim teachers have long suffered discrimination by the ethnic Somalis in the region, who are accused of helping militants to target Christians.
Christian workers in Somalia worship in secret, fear al-Shabab
By Tonny Onyulo — January 7, 2019
MOGADISHU, Somalia (RNS) — Hundreds of Christians in Somalia, mostly foreigners from nearby countries, worship in secret out of fear of Muslim extremists.
Cardinal to African faith leaders: Negotiate peace with terrorists
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — June 8, 2018
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — As violence-torn Africa grows weary of solutions that haven’t worked, Nigerian Cardinal John Onaiyekan is proposing a controversial alternative.
Supreme Court allows full enforcement of Trump travel ban
By Jerome Socolovsky — December 4, 2017
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's not a final ruling on the travel ban: Challenges to the policy are winding through the federal courts, and the justices themselves ultimately are expected to rule on its legality.
Terrorist group al-Shabab delivers food relief to drought-stricken Somalia
By Fredrick Nzwili — March 31, 2017
(RNS) It is not clear where the group is getting the aid, but its own network of sponsors and sympathizers are believed to be donating. Protection money and extortion are also believed to be funding the relief effort.
Trump must aid persecuted Christians or his presidency will fail, says Open Doors
By Lauren Markoe — January 11, 2017
(RNS) 'Nearly 1 in every 12 Christians in the world today lives in an area or in a culture in which Christianity is illegal, forbidden or punished,' said Open Doors CEO David Curry.
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