Somalia’s government has banned celebrations of Christmas and New Year in the Muslim majority country, saying the festivities might attract Islamist attacks.
“Those celebrations are not in any way related to Islam,” an official at the religious affairs ministry said.
Security agencies have been directed to stay alert to stop any gatherings.
Foreigners are free to mark the Christian holiday in their own homes, but hotels and other public places have been prohibited from marking the day.
Last year Shebab militants launched a Christmas attack on Mogadishu airport that killed at least 12 people.
Christmas is not widely celebrated in Somalia, which officially adopted Sharia in 2009, but the odd event was held – especially as an excuse to hold a party.
Somalia also follows the Islamic calendar that does not recognise January 1 as the beginning of the year.
The ban on Christmas celebrations in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, does not apply to non-Muslims living in the city, mayor Yusuf Hussein Jimale told BBC.
“Non-Muslims are free to celebrate.We are not after them,” he said.
The ban applied to Muslims, and had been introduced to prevent possible attacks by militant Islamist group al-Shabab on people who may gather at hotels or other public places, Mr Jimale added.
Celebrations will be allowed at UN compounds and bases for African Union peacekeepers, who are in the country to back the government’s fight against the al-Qaeda-linked militants.
