AFRICA/SOMALIA - Bishop Bertin: "Hidden life of the faithful and humanitarian work of Caritas"

Thursday, 29 April 2021 politics   faith   christianity   islam   human rights   religious freedom   religious minorities  

Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - For thirty years Somalia has been a divided country, without stable institutions, crossed by fundamentalist turmoil. In this complex context, a very small Christian community continues to live which, amidst a thousand difficulties, continues to move forward with its faith. It is led by Monsignor Giorgio Bertin, a life dedicated to Somalia first as a Franciscan missionary, then as Bishop of Djibouti and Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu. The Bishop is well aware of both the conditions in which Christians live and the political and economic situation of the country of the Horn of Africa. The Somali Catholic community is very small: in the entire country there are a few dozen Christians who secretly profess Christianity. There are also many faithful among the members of international organizations and military contingents present in the territory. Just think of the Italian, Burundian and Kenyan contingents. In Somaliland, a state declared independent, but not recognized by the international community, there is a more stable presence. There is a priest with a good group of faithful. However, they are forced to profess their faith at home or indoors. Somalis have always professed a tolerant Islam. They have always been open to dialogue and have never had tense relations with Christians. "Somalis have never been anti-Christian" - continues Archbishop Bertin, "indeed, in the past they viewed us in a benevolent way. Since the fall of Siad Barre, perhaps even a little earlier, with the arrival of an Islamism that seeks to rebuild society on the basis of Islamic law, Christians have gradually been marginalized. Currently politicians, although they are not hostile to the Church, tend not to guarantee a space for Christians because they fear being accused of favoring 'the crusaders'. These are rhetorical formulas that, unfortunately, however, are becoming fashionable".
Catholics are present in the territory through Caritas Somalia, which works on a social level providing assistance to the population in difficulty, especially the weakest groups such as children and women. On the occasion of Cyclone Gati, which devastated the country in 2020, Caritas worked in Puntland, the northwestern region of the country, assisting 3,500 people. It was not an easy intervention because it was carried out in an area where the presence of jihadists is strong. In Somaliland, Caritas Somalia, which here takes the name Caritas Naxariis (Mercy), is working on an educational project for 35 displaced children. With the arrival of the covid-19 pandemic, Caritas Somalia also began working in Mogadishu, Garowe and Bosaso with educational programs to prevent the spread of the virus. Operating in Somalia is not easy. The political situation is very complex. "To simplify", observes the Prelate, "we have before us a central power, which is trying to resurface and assert itself, which is facing federal states which, in turn, are trying to make their voice heard. In fact, this confrontation has immobilized the country. The Somali political situation is influenced by the interests of regional and international actors. The price of this situation is the instability paid by the civilian population". In the political complexity, it is necessary to deal with a very strong Islamic fundamentalism: "Al-Shabaab - concludes Monsignor Bertin - is present in the interior of south-central Somalia, but it also has its own cells in the main Somali cities. Besides Al Shabaab, there are groups inspired by the Islamic State, especially in Puntland. Both, in addition to imposing a comprehensive vision of Islam, sow hatred and terror in the territory. Thirty years after the fall of the Siad Barre regime, the context is very difficult. Institutions are weak, sometimes absent, and often quarrelsome. The country needs a program to build a State capable of providing its citizens with security and basic services. Paradoxically, in the areas controlled by al-Shabaab, the militia linked to al-Qaeda, this security and these services exist. In a regime of terror that limits any form of freedom". (EC) (Agenzia Fides, 29/4/2021)


Share: