Source: www.persecution.org
Date: January 23, 2024
Comoros (International Christian Concern) – Comoros President Azali Assoumani was reelected last week, ensuring that Christians will face ongoing challenges and persecution on this small island off the Eastern coast of Africa.
Assoumani first became president in 2002 after a military coup d’etat in 1999. He served as president from 2002 to 2006 when he was eventually ousted by Ahmend Abdallah Mohamed Sambi in a presidential election. With turmoil surrounding the presidency in the following years, Assoumani ran for president again in 2016, winning reelection and changing the constitution’s outline of term limits in order to serve longer.
Six people were severely injured and one person died amid protests last week as minority leaders cried fraud. According to public records, Assoumani won the election with a 62.97% majority.
Religious freedom in Comoros is close to nothing. The constitution states, “Islam is the state religion and citizens shall draw principles and rules to regulate worship and social life from the Shafi’i school of Sunni Islam,” and “the will of the Comorian people is to cultivate a national identity based on a single religion, Sunni Islam.”
The population of Comoros is estimated to be about 98% Sunni Muslim and less than two percent Roman Catholic, Shia Muslim, Ahmadi Muslim, and Protestant combined. Each of these populations are most likely foreign residents who reside in the capital city, Moroni.
Due to the president’s strong convictions in Sunni Islam and his track record while serving the country, the situation for any remaining Christians looks grim. Christians are continually publicly shunned and frequently have licenses to build stalled or denied.
However, as confirmed by the U.S. Religious Freedom Report of 2022, “One religious minority group leader attributed the government’s relative restraint to sustained international engagement from the United States and others related to the issue.” Additionally, the president has refrained from making public comments about religious minorities and U.S. embassy representatives have continued meeting with religious minority leaders in an effort to discover and promote efforts of religious freedom.
Despite the severe restrictions outlined in the Comorian constitution as well as the treatment of minorities by the general public, Comoros provides a modern example of the efficacy of international religious freedom advocacy conducted by the United States.
We are hopeful for the continued advocacy efforts of the U.S. government and NGOs in Comoros. In this new presidency, we encourage continued relations with the U.S. and Comorian officials specifically as it pertains to religious freedom. We pray that the Christians in Comoros would be able to experience peace and comfort in their current situation and find a way to practice their faith without fear. We praise God for the work he is doing in Comoros and pray that the hearts of the Comorian people would be receptive to his word.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for safety for Christian minorities in Comoros. Pray for them to shine the light of Christ in their communities. Pray for godly leaders to rise to power in this nation.