There were no Muslims in Vanuatu in the 1970s, but thanks to one man this religion grew significantly in the South Pacific archipelago.

Vanuatu itself is a Christian country, and because of its modest economy, it does not attract immigration and does not represent any economic or strategic interest to the Middle East, but a Sunni Muslim community is beginning to form there.

This issue is being discussed by a postgraduate expert in international relations, Arthur Francois, who worked at the French Embassy in Vanuatu and is continuing his diplomatic career, especially in the Muslim-majority world.

Islam was said to have existed in this archipelago, close to Indonesia, before its occupation by the French and British in the late 19th century, but the colonizer evacuated the country from its Muslims by displacing them or merging them with Christians through mixed marriages.

They sent Peruvian sects, whose members claimed to be Muslims, took mosques and practiced strange rituals, such as making men lie in rows inside the mosques and passing a woman over their breasts, claiming that this would make them enter Paradise because they were "under the feet of mothers."

But things have changed since John Henry Nbanga went to India to navigate theology to convert to Islam, memorize the Koran and change his name to Hussein Bananga in 1978.

Hussein returned to his hometown of Mili, not far from the capital, Porvila. He called on his people to Islam, established the Vanuatu Islamic Society, which was recognized by the authorities in 1997, and built the first mosque there in 1992. .

Every year about 20 students from Vanuatu are sent to Koranic schools in India or the Middle East.

The writer is surprised by the introduction of Islam in a country that sanctifies the pig.

The writer believes that the Islamic miracle has not yet been achieved in this archipelago, but it seems that there are signs of the growth of this religion significantly.